Pittsfield Water System Flushing to Begin Today

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield’s Department of Public Utilities has announced that the first phase of flushing the city’s water system will commence on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Water mains throughout Pittsfield will be flushed via hydrants over the coming weeks to remove accumulations of pipeline corrosion products. The flushing will occur Monday through Friday each week, excluding holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

The initial flushing period, from April 22 to May 2, is anticipated to affect the following areas:

  • Starting at the Dalton Avenue town line, proceeding west through Coltsville, including lower Crane Avenue and the Meadowview neighborhood, and continuing north along Cheshire Road.
  • Hubbard Avenue and Downing Parkway.
  • Starting at the East Street town line, proceeding west through the McIntosh and Parkside neighborhoods.
  • Elm Street neighborhoods west to the intersection of East Street.
  • Starting at the Williams Street town line, proceeding west, including the Mountain Drive, Ann Drive, East New Lenox Road, and Holmes Road neighborhoods.

While the flushing process may cause temporary localized discolored water and reduced service pressure in the immediate vicinity of the work, the Department of Public Utilities states that measures will be taken to maintain proper treatment and disinfection levels within the water system. Residents experiencing discolored water are advised to run their water for a short time to allow it to clear before use.

Residents who experience persistent discolored water or low-pressure conditions are asked to contact the Water Department at (413) 499-9339.

The city’s Department of Public Utilities emphasizes that flushing is a necessary operational procedure for maintaining water quality in the distribution system and appreciates residents' patience during this period.

 


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Dalton Starts Talks on STRs

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — Short-term rentals have sparked extensive debate across Berkshire County, and now Dalton is joining the conversation.
 
During the Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, the topic of short-term rentals was briefly raised and will be discussed in more depth at its July meeting.
 
The state Department of Revenue flags short-term rentals as owner-occupied or occupied for 14 days or less. By law all units must register, but units occupied by guests for fewer than 15 days a year do not need to collect tax.
 
Some towns, like Williamstown, have defined a rental of a whole or a portion of a dwelling unit, in exchange for payment, as residential accommodations for not more than 30 consecutive days. 
 
Dalton does not have a bylaw for short-term rentals. Definitions on similar rentals within the bylaws are: 
 
Motel, which is defined as a hotel primarily for transients traveling by automobile, with a parking space on the lot for each lodging unit with access to each such unit directly from the outside
 
Lodging, bed-and-breakfast, boarding, or tourist house, which are defined as a residence with rooms rented or used by paying guests, transiently or permanently, where not more than six bedrooms are used for shelter and sleeping accommodations for guests, and guest meals may be provided.
 
Although Building Inspector Brian Duval has not received any complaints, the town's lack of a short-term rental bylaw needs to be addressed to prevent "major problems" other towns are experiencing, including Lanesborough and Lenox. 
 
If Duval receives a complaint, he is required to immediately send a cease and desist, shutting them down, Vice Chair Robert Collins said. 
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