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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Pittsfield ConCom OKs Wahconah Park Demo, Ice Rink

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Conservation Commission has OKed the demolition of Wahconah Park and and the installation of a temporary ice rink on the property. 

The property at 105 Wahconah St. has drawn attention for several years after the grandstand was deemed unsafe in 2022. Planners have determined that starting from square one is the best option, and the park's front lawn is seen as a great place to site the new pop-up ice skating rink while baseball is paused. 

"From a higher level, the project's really two phases, and our goal is that phase one is this demolition phase, and we have a few goals that we want to meet as part of this step, and then the second step is to rehabilitate the park and to build new a new grandstand," James Scalise of SK Design explained on behalf of the city. 

"But we'd like these two phases to happen in series one immediately after the other." 

On Thursday, the ConCom issued orders of conditions for both city projects. 

Mayor Peter Marchetti received a final report from the Wahconah Park Restoration Committee last year recommending a $28.4 million rebuild of the grandstand and parking lot. In July, the Parks Commission voted to demolish the historic, crumbling grandstand and have the project team consider how to retain the electrical elements so that baseball can continue to be played. 

Last year, there was $18 million committed between grant funding and capital borrowing. 

This application approved only the demolition of the more than 100-year-old structure. Scalise explained that it establishes the reuse of the approved flood storage and storage created by the demolition, corrects the elevation benchmark, and corrects the wetland boundary. 

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