Middleboro aids Bridgewater during water emergency

MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro officials approved a three-month agreement supplying water to Bridgewater after the latter town declared a supply emergency due to contamination. 

The Middleboro Select Board unanimously approved the measure, which will create a direct link providing Bridgewater with about 250,000 gallons of water a day, at its Monday, Dec. 8 meeting.

Similar to Middleboro’s agreement with Carver, the town will sell water at 1.5 times its highest rate when charging the neighboring town. Unlike the agreement with Carver, however, this is a temporary measure to assist Bridgewater as it fixes its operational system. 

It needs time to clean and flush pipes to rid the town’s system of dangerous amounts of manganese, a mineral with harmful neurological effects when consumed in high concentrations. 

Town Manager James McGrail said Bridgewater’s emergency came at a good time. He said because it is winter and there is not a water ban, the town has excess water it can send to its neighbor.

“We do have the available water to give, I think we're in a position to be able to help out a neighbor. On the other side of it, it also will be a little bit of a moneymaker for us,” McGrail said.

The revenue collected through the agreement will go back to the water department and will fund future projects.

Water Superintendent Michael Bumpus said the town will build a 950-foot water pipe to connect a Middleboro and Bridgewater fire hydrant, and a meter will measure how much water the latter uses each day.

He also said the town is not concerned about a drought during the winter months, and he supported the agreement.

“The water is there,” Bumpus said. “If the water wasn't there, I wouldn't be here tonight, entertaining this, to help them out.”

As part of the agreement, Middleboro can stop sending water to Bridgewater if it determines the town cannot provide for its own residents. 

Despite assurances the measure is temporary and Middleboro has enough additional water to send to Bridgewater, some residents were concerned the agreement would continue for longer than three months and take needed water away from the town.

Dawn Boissonneault said she did not want to prioritize Bridgewater’s needs over the needs of Middleboro residents. 

“We want to be a good neighbor — we're good neighbors to Carver, we're good neighbors to Lakeville with our water. Plimpton also,” she said. “At some point, you have to worry about yourself.”

Her husband Gerald Boissonneault said he worried the agreement would be renewed after the three month period, and compared it to the Carver agreement.

However, several board members assured residents there is ample water available and this is a temporary solution. 

“The difference there would be that in Carver, if we shut that valve, those people have no water in their homes, like zero water,” McGrail said.

Bridgewater only needs a few months to clean out its water system and return to normal operations.

Justin Casanova-Davis, the Bridgewater town manager, said he worked closely with McGrail and appreciated Middleboro’s willingness to aid his town.

 “I just want to thank you all,” he said. “I thank the community, but I also want to thank the water superintendent and the town manager in particular, we've collaborated pretty extensively.”

The three-month period will begin when Middleboro begins sending water to Bridgewater, which is estimated to be in early January.