Flushing of Pittsfield's Water System to Begin Tuesday

Staff Reports 08:00AM / Friday, September 01, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city of Pittsfield's Department of Public Utilities announced flushing of the city's water system will begin Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Water mains throughout the city will be flushed through hydrants over the course of four weeks to remove accumulations of pipeline corrosion products. Mains will be flushed Monday through Friday each week, except holidays, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The upcoming flushing for the week of September 5 may be expected to affect the following areas:
Starting at the town line on Dalton Avenue working west through Coltsville including lower Crane Avenue, Meadowview neighborhood, following Cheshire Road north.
Hubbard Avenue and Downing Parkway.
Starting at the town line on East Street working west through the McIntosh and Parkside neighborhoods.
Elm Street neighborhoods west to the intersection of East Street.
Starting at the town line on Williams Street working west including Mountain Drive, Ann Drive, East New Lenox Road, and Holmes Road neighborhoods.

Although flushing may cause localized discolored water and reduced service pressure conditions in and around the immediate area of flushing, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that proper levels of treatment and disinfections are maintained in the system at all times.

If residents experience discolored water, they should let the water run for a short period to clear it prior to use.

If discolored water or low-pressure conditions persist, please contact the Water Department at (413) 499-9339.

Tags: hydrants,

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BCC Awarded $202K for Microelectronics Project

10:51AM / Friday, January 09, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is a recipient of a Supporting Chip Advancement from Lab to Enterprise (SCALE) Capital Program grant, awarded by the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC), in the amount of $202,200.

The award is part of $10.2 million in grant funds that support 10 microelectronics projects throughout the Commonwealth.

The SCALE awards are designed to supercharge the microelectronics industry across Massachusetts, including AI hardware, nanotechnology and quantum computing. Grants will fund the purchase of capital equipment to support workforce and technology development at higher education institutions, companies and nonprofit organizations.

At BCC, the grant funds will be used to purchase a scanning electron microscope, as well as sample preparation equipment, for the Workforce Microelectronics Training Program. Associate Professor of Engineering Dr. José Colmenares explained that the scanning electron microscope is a powerful device that uses electrons instead of light to magnify images. These images are so small that a traditional light microscope would be inadequate. He also said that while the grant funds will support electronic components, circuit elements and microchips for BCC's Engineering Department, they can also be used by all departments of the college for various scientific applications.

"The Engineering Department is thrilled to receive grant funding for an electron microscope that will transform how we teach engineering and mechatronics. This powerful tool will give students hands-on experience with micro- and nanoscale structures, directly preparing the next generation of technical professionals for careers in microelectronic manufacturing," Dr. Colmenares said. "We are excited to integrate this technology into our curriculum and expand authentic, industry-aligned learning opportunities for our students."

SCALE builds on NEMC's mission to rapidly accelerate microelectronics ecosystem development by supporting projects that unite the microelectronics community, develop technologies to attract additional investment, and boost workforce development programs to fill regional gaps.

"The SCALE Capital Program is a strategic investment in the future of Massachusetts' microelectronics industry," said Governor Maura Healey. "Massachusetts is focused on bridging the gap between development and commercialization so that microelectronics companies based here can better compete globally. That starts with providing the equipment to advance projects and supporting training for new entrants in the industry."

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