[BARC-List] EMERGENCY TRAFFIC Drinking Water

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This is NOT A DRILL.   73 de Arthur N1NHZ
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Nightmare’ water break affects 2 million in Bay State

by O’Ryan Johnson, Marie Szanislo and Renee Nadeau

Saturday, May 1, 2010

A catastrophic water break put 2 million Bay Staters under emergency conservation and boil orders in 38 communities this afternoon. 

“This is everyone’s worst nightmare in the water community,” said Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Executive Director Fred Laskey. “It’s very important we handle this right.” 

The constraints were mandated by state officials after a massive water main break in Weston began dumping eight million gallons an hour into the Charles River. 

“We have a catastrophic failure in a 10-foot diameter pipe,” said Laskey. The breach occurred where the Metrowest tunnel connects to the city tunnel. 

The initial failure happened around 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. and as of 5 p.m. “is now in the process of catastrophically failing,” Laskey said. 

“This is an unprecedented event of this magnitude and at this critical juncture in our water supply system. It is highly unusual and catastrophic in nature,” Laskey said. 

Authorities are switching to a backup system, but the water provided to the Hub and other affected towns is not suitable for drinking, state officials said. A boil order is immediately in effect for all residents east of Weston, north from Stoughton and south from Wilmington. 

Officials do not anticipate being able to access the affected pipe until 10 or 11 tomorrow morning, and were unable to say how long it will take to repair the damage. 

Anyone who ingests contaminated water may suffer nausea, diarrhea, cramps or headaches, according to the Department of Environmental Protection. Infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems are more at risk of illness. 

The National Guard is being mobilized to distribute bottled water, officials said at an afternoon press conference at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. 

Fire officials say the MWRA will shut down the Hub’s main water supply and switch to a backup system of reservoirs in order to supply the area while workers repair the damage. Officials said there will be water to supply hydrants, but the water is not safe to drink. 

“We are telling all of our firehouses to boil the water before drinking it,” said Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald. Public health officials were scrambling to address any potential hazards posed to the city’s most vulnerable populations. 

“We’re trying to get organized ourselves,” said Barbara Ferrer of the Boston Public Health Commission. “We are coordinating with the hospitals.” 

Boston police said all officers on the day tour were held over to handle any problems that may arise from the water shortage and boil order. 

The city’s restaurants will not be closed, but they will need to boil any water used in food preparation or for public consumption. 

“I want to make perfectly clear, restaurants in the city of Boston will be open tonight for business,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino said at the press conference. 


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