A major water main break in Weston this past Saturday has disrupted water supply to 38 Massachusetts communities and affected more than 2 million people since its burst. The 10-foot diameter pipe’s damage was discovered in an area where two pipes join carrying treated water from the Quabbin reservoir. Although the water main has been repaired today, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) expects the earliest regular service to be restored Wednesday May 5th.
President Obama has declared a state of emergency due to the large effects of the water main break. This declaration by Obama authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid State and local response efforts.
Emergency water has been switched on however is not safe for consumption as the MWRA mandated a “boil-water” order in effect until further notice from Governor Patrick. The boiling water order requires water used for drinking, cooking, other food preparation involving water and brushing teeth. Governor Deval Patrick has administered water testing in more than 400 locations stating he would rather err on the side of caution before removing the boiling ban.
More than residential homes have been effected, restaurants and coffee shops alike have been stalled from the water main break. Unable to wash dishes or churn ice cubes restaurants have been forced to shut down until further notice.
Officials have yet to find the source of this disaster and have been left moderately stumped as the break occurred in a portion of the piping only seven years old and sealed with rubber gaskets. The investigations will continue to not only find the underlying cause of this break, but the risk of another catastrophic burst as well.