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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Pittsfield's DPW Czar Talks Snow Plowing

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Wednesday, February 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Staffing shortages continue to stretch Pittsfield’s public works employees thin during winter storm events.

On Monday, Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales updated the Public Works Committee on snow operations. Last winter, snow maintenance and winter overtime were overspent by nearly $1.2 million, and Pittsfield saw a total of 4.77 feet of snow.

"We place safety over everything else when we do the work we do, and one of those main things is to ensure that we have safe access for emergency vehicles. Then we consider equity, efficiency, and cost control," Morales explained.

"… We have to do the work we're doing and if the budget is at the end of the day, at the end of the year in the negative, then we have to make sure that we can replenish that by some other means and that's why, very often, almost every year, I have not seen a year where we have not done this, we come back to the City Council to ask for funds to replenish some of the funds spent on snow and ice."

The region saw more than a foot of snow earlier this year, and it continued to fall on Tuesday. Snow accumulation is significant because of freezing temperatures.

This winter season to date, 4.5 feet of snow has fallen on Pittsfield, and contractors worked more than 4,000 hours.

Morales cited contractor availability, contractor rates and insurance, staffing shortages, and increasing weather unpredictability as the main challenges for snow removal operations in fiscal year 2025. Staffing shortages continue in 2026, as the Highway Division has seven vacancies, causing "a major issue" when it comes to maintaining around-the-clock staffing during storms.

Contractors have been brought in to supplement with larger vehicles, and Deputy Commissioner Jason Murphy and other employees have been plowing while they should be focused on quality control. Morales pointed out that the city has worked with contractors to provide better pay and insurance standards for this winter season.

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