Water soon to flow to Bridgewater, providing aid during water emergency
A cap to water piping is seen near the new water line around 0 Plymouth St. in Middleboro. The water line will supply Bridgewater while the neighboring town fixes contamination issues with their own supply. Photos by Sam Tucker
Fixtures for the new water main are seen at 0 Plymouth St. in Middleboro. Middleboro Water Superintendent Michael Bumpus said water may flow to Bridgewater as soon as Jan. 10.
A cap to water piping is seen near the new water line around 0 Plymouth St. in Middleboro. The water line will supply Bridgewater while the neighboring town fixes contamination issues with their own supply. Photos by Sam Tucker
Fixtures for the new water main are seen at 0 Plymouth St. in Middleboro. Middleboro Water Superintendent Michael Bumpus said water may flow to Bridgewater as soon as Jan. 10.
MIDDLEBORO — After two days of construction, the temporary water line to help Bridgewater during a water emergency is finished.
The temporary water line was approved during a Dec. 8 Select Board meeting, where Bridgewater officials asked the board for water assistance during a town-wide supply emergency due to contamination.
Water is expected to start flowing by tomorrow afternoon, Middleboro Water Superintendent Michael Bumpus said.
Once water begins to flow, Bridgewater has the supply for 90 days. The line will supply Bridgewater with about 250,000 gallons of water per day. There is no extension to the water agreement at this time.
Middleboro’s additional water supply will be used to support Bridgewater as it needs time to clean and flush pipes to rid the town’s water system of dangerous amounts of manganese — a mineral with harmful neurological effects when consumed in high concentrations.
Bumpus said the department will be testing the new line’s water for contaminants on Jan. 9. After the tests are completed, water could flow to Bridgewater by Saturday, Jan. 10.
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 water system.
The revenue collected through the agreement will go back to the water department and will fund future projects.
“Any discoloration and any change in services, definitely give the water department a call,” Bumpus said.
The department can be reached by phone at: 508-946-2482.
