Ice Pigging and Water Main Flushing Update
Ice Pigging schedule for the week of 10/21/19
Elm Street from Country Way to First Parish Road
Country Way from First Parish Road to Curtis St @ Captain Pierce Road
Captain Pierce from Country Way to Lawson Road @ Dreamwold Road
Branch Street from country Way to Beaver Dam Road
Water service will be temporarily interrupted for customers in this area and surrounding streets for approximately 1-3 hours. Please refrain from or minimize turning on your water while we are in your area to avoid drawing discolored water into your home and preventing clogged pipes and faucets. We have seen very successful results thus far and appreciate your patience during this project.
Water Main Flushing Weekly Update for the week of 10/21/19 on the following streets in this order:
Murphy’s Lane Bay Ridge Road
Sycamore Road Damon Road
Claymore Terrace Scituate Ave
Stewart Place Spaulding Ave
Seamore Road Meadow Road
Richfield Road Foam Road
Richfield Road Ext Otis Road
Maple Ave Brockton Ave
Hatherly Road Curtis Ave
Jericho Road Barker Road
Brookline Road Turner Road
Wellesley Road Seabreeze Lane
Beacon Road Lighthouse Road
Hillcrest Road Bates Lane
Rebecca Road
Signs will be placed in the areas to be flushed at least one day prior to the start of flushing. Flushing will occur between the hours of 8:00AM and 5:30PM but may be extended as needed. We will make every effort to adhere to the schedules as posted, but may experience deviations due to unforeseen issues, weather and adequate water supply.
Flushing is typically done with any municipal water system to remove any sediment that may build up in the pipe. The Town opens hydrants along the water line, stirring up the sediment in the pipe which is then removed from the system through hydrants located at the limits of the flushing area. This is done to prevent the sediment from being stirred up in the water lines during a fire, high demand time of year or a broken water line. Most of the sediment is removed from the pipes but some does escape into the system which causes the discoloration of water. The water system is a closed system and sediment can spread throughout the system until it is flushed. Removing discolored water from your residence begins by allowing water to flush from an outdoor spigot. This will prevent sediment from entering fixtures in the residence. It is also why Border Street can experience brown water from a hydrant that is opened on Front Street. The sediment travels through the system until it can escape. The entire water system is controlled by pressure and elevation.
Where does the brown water come from? The major cause of the discolored water is old unlined water pipes that can react with the minerals naturally occurring in water. In the past the Town has been unable to have a flushing program because these pre-1935 pipes would break from the pressure of the program and lack of water in our reservoir. The Town is heavily dependent on ground water wells as a source of drinking water which can also be rich in minerals and contribute to the brown water. These minerals consist of iron or manganese. The flushing program will cause discolored water in varying degrees in all sections of town. Our program will target all areas to address the recent discoloration. Information will be updated and posted weekly on our website.