DPW workers finishing up repairs to a broken water line on State Road. The MassDEP has lifted a boil water order for the city except in those areas around the breaks on American Legion Drive and State Road.
North Adams Lifts Boil Water Order for Most of City
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city has lifted a boil water order — with several exceptions — that was issued late Monday morning following several water line breaks over the weekend.
As of 2:20 p.m., repairs have been completed, and water tests have shown no presence of total coliform or E. coli bacteria, according to the mayor's office.
However, the state Department of Environmental Protection has continued the boil water requirement for buildings affected by the breaks: 40 Main Street, 10 to 36 American Legion Drive, and 40 American Legion Drive; and 74 to 264 State Road, and 15 to 57 Biltmore Ave.
Those areas were directly affected by a water line break on American Legion Drive and one on State Road.
These properties remain under an order to boil water or use bottled water for drinking, making ice, food preparation, brushing teeth, and washing dishes.
"Since the initial public notification, we have made repairs and utilized an interconnect between our High and Low Service Areas, increasing pressures throughout the system. Bacteria samples were collected on December 15, 2025, at areas affected by low pressure," a statement from the Water Department reads.
"Repairs are underway to restore water to the remaining affected areas. Bacteria samples will be collected once water is restored. We will notify these affected areas when it is no longer necessary to use boiled or bottled water."
The first break occurred in a line behind the water treatment plant on Pattison Road; the line was in a field and difficult to access. The drop in pressure and the continued cold caused other breaks, including the one in front of the fire station and the other by Carr Hardware on State Road.
These caused outages and low water pressure in several areas off the city. Residents on Monday were advised to boil water or use bottled water for drinking, making ice, food preparation, washing dishes and brushing teeth.
For more information, contact the Water Department at 413-662-3157 and residents are urged to share this information with other who may not have received the notice.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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Berkshires Dips Below Measles Herd Immunity
Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Three of the Western Massachusetts counties, including the Berkshires, have fallen below the 95 percent vaccination level for measles, mumps, and rubella to ensure herd immunity.
The Washington Post's Vaccination Report Card for the nation found Massachusetts as a whole was at 97 percent; the Berkshires has dipped to 91.8 percent in the years following the pandemic.
Hampden County is at 93.8 percent and Franklin at 91.5 percent; Southern Vermont is even lower with Bennington County at 90 percent and Windham at 91. The two other low counties were Suffolk at 94.1 and Nantucket at 91 percent.
The MMR vaccinations are given at about a year old and again around age 5. The percentages are based on reported vaccination levels by elementary schools, a majority of which did not have that information available.
Brayton Elementary in North Adams and Craneville in Dalton reported the highest levels at 99 percent and 98 percent, respectively. Hoosac Valley Elementary in Adams, Lee Elementary and Muddy Brook Elementary in Great Barrington were all at 97 percent.
Pittsfield schools had the lowest reported data: Morningside Community was 94 percent, Stearns 88, Egremont 84 and Williams 80 percent.
The two closest Vermont elementary schools — Pownal and Stamford — were also below herd immunity levels at 90 percent each.
The former mayor was presented with a clock in 2017 upon the completion of his fourth term as chair of the committee; on Tuesday, he received another clock marking his four years as a member of the committee.
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