Update Saturday, December 27 — In an email to The Berkshire Edge, Housatonic Water Works Treasurer and certified water operator Jim Mercer wrote:
The issue occurred within a component of the Company’s treatment system and did not affect the distribution system or any specific neighborhoods.
There has been no interruption to water service. The water is safe for all typical uses, including drinking, and customers may continue to use tap water as usual. At this time, there is no need or plans to provide bottled water. We’ll let you know when we have additional information.
Original story:
Great Barrington — On Monday, December 23, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) issued a declaration of state of water emergency due to emergency conditions at Housatonic Water Works.
According to the declaration written by MassDEP Acting Section Chief Christine Simard, the emergency “shall remain in effect until the need to use an emergency interconnection with Great Barrington Fire District is abated.”
As stated in the order, on December 23 at 2 p.m., company Treasurer and certified water operator Jim Mercer contacted MassDEP by email and telephone “to report an issue with the [company’s] ability to maintain adequate flow through its water treatment facility to meet water demands.”
[Mercer] informed MassDEP that the [company] was actively working with the Great Barrington Fire District (the District) to make an emergency hydrant-to hydrant connection that would allow the district to provide supplemental water that would allow the [company] to meet its demands.
The [company’s] inability to maintain adequate flow through its water treatment facility is a significant disruption to the water system and thus constitutes an Emergency as defined by 310 CMR 22.02.
MassDEP has ordered HWW to implement an emergency response plan, which includes the activation of an emergency interconnection with the Great Barrington Fire District.
It also directs the company to provide to customers a minimum of one gallon of bottled water per day for potable uses.
The emergency order was sent to The Berkshire Edge via email by Mercer, wrote in his email: “We are responding to a system issue, and water service remains safe and uninterrupted.”
In a separate press release issued by HWW, Mercer wrote:
Over the weekend, operators observed a reduction in water flow from its slow sand filters at the Company’s treatment facility.
On Monday [December 23], company personnel conducted a thorough inspection and performed maintenance
activities aimed at restoring normal water flow. While these actions resulted in measurable
improvement, the system has not yet fully returned to normal operating capacity.
Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure continued reliability of service, the company activated its Emergency Action Plan. As part of this response, a temporary emergency interconnection was installed to supplement the water supply.
The interconnection utilizes fire hoses connecting the Great Barrington Fire District distribution system to the Housatonic Water Company system through hydrants located on Christian Hill Road.
The emergency interconnection was completed in approximately two hours through the coordinated efforts of Housatonic Water Company personnel, Great Barrington Fire District personnel, and Joe Wilkinson Excavating, ensuring a rapid and effective response to the situation.
Mercer added in the press release that:
The water is safe and customers may continue normal water use
System conditions continue to be closely monitored, and appropriate operational adjustments
will be made as necessary to ensure continued service and protect public health and safety. While the situation remains fluid, there has been no interruption to water service, and customers may continue to use water as usual unless otherwise notified.
