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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Letter: North Adams Parking Survey
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor:
I am inviting North Adams residents and visitors to take part in a citizen-developed survey about parking in our city. As a new resident, I was surprised to learn about the winter nighttime parking ban only after receiving a ticket. My appeal was denied, despite the fact that the ban was not proactively communicated. Information online is scattered, and enforcement dates appear inconsistent. In five other Massachusetts communities where I have lived, I never encountered a total winter parking ban.
Conversations with neighbors and local friends suggest that communication failures are a recurring issue for drivers here. From parking meters without posted enforcement hours, to Mass MoCA event parking, to the winter overnight ban, residents and visitors alike are left confused. To encourage better communication, I believe tickets issued without clear notice should be waived. With the city already investing in CodeRed alerts and maintaining a downtown marquee, it should not be difficult to keep drivers informed of parking rules.
I know I'm just one person with a limited view of the bigger picture. That's why I'm hoping this survey will collect a wide range of experiences and ideas. I'll share the results with City Council so we can push for clearer communication and better parking policies. Please take a few minutes to fill it out and make sure your voice is heard.
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