Middlebury town officials are continuing to work to alleviate a series of water main issues that have caused widespread breaks and triggered a series of cautionary boil water advisories.Officials said they are working around the clock to address issues triggered by a so-called “pressure wave” within the town’s water system, which has caused unprecedented leaks and breaks.According to investigations into the matter, a hydrant in the town was recently frozen in an open position, causing a surge of water to flow through at a high rate, damaging the nearly 100-year-old system of pipes used to deliver potable water to residents.While the situation was believed to be under control last week, officials said a new spate of breaks and leakages have dashed hopes that the problem would subside anytime soon. As of Thursday night, there have been 22 water main breaks, and more are to be expected.For residents like Kara Doner, having to deal with this issue is like déjà vu, after being without water when the July floods hit her house. The neighborhood Doner lives in was among those most impacted by the floods, the windstorms in January, and now the water main breaks.”When you don’t have water, you don’t realize the impact that it has,” Doner said, adding, “you can’t flush your toilet, you can’t wash your dishes you can’t brush your teeth, so everything has to be with bottled water.”Middlebury’s interim emergency management director, Thomas Hanley, said it could take anywhere from three to six months to stop the water main breaks and completely fix the system.Officials emphasized that the boil water advisories in effect are precautionary, and there is currently no danger from drinking town water.”Even with the boil water notice all you can do is take a shower or wash your clothes,” Doner commented.Right now, officials have submitted a request for a local declaration of emergency from Gov. Phil Scott in the hopes of getting state aid as well as potable emergency water for residents in need.Hanley shared that it has cost the town close to half a million dollars in just the past three weeks of repairing the water main breaks. “We’re running out of equipment to do this; we’re running out of staff availability to do this. These guys are working long, long days 7 days a week,” Hanley said.Additionally, Middlebury’s water reservoir has been quickly depleting between all the breaks and leaks, which Hanley said, “our firefighter capacity has been severely diminished.” In the meantime, crews are working to address issues as they are reported, with an outside engineering firm also retained to assist with problems that may occur.Additionally, Middlebury’s police department is assisting the community and handing out water jugs to any residents in need. People can also fill up their own containers inside the building.”The town understands the incident has caused a great deal of inconvenience to our citizens, and we thank them for their continued patience as our crews work to repair the unprecedented number of breaks and leaks,” the notice reads.
Middlebury town officials are continuing to work to alleviate a series of water main issues that have caused widespread breaks and triggered a series of cautionary boil water advisories.
Officials said they are working around the clock to address issues triggered by a so-called “pressure wave” within the town’s water system, which has caused unprecedented leaks and breaks.
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According to investigations into the matter, a hydrant in the town was recently frozen in an open position, causing a surge of water to flow through at a high rate, damaging the nearly 100-year-old system of pipes used to deliver potable water to residents.
While the situation was believed to be under control last week, officials said a new spate of breaks and leakages have dashed hopes that the problem would subside anytime soon. As of Thursday night, there have been 22 water main breaks, and more are to be expected.
For residents like Kara Doner, having to deal with this issue is like déjà vu, after being without water when the July floods hit her house. The neighborhood Doner lives in was among those most impacted by the floods, the windstorms in January, and now the water main breaks.
“When you don’t have water, you don’t realize the impact that it has,” Doner said, adding, “you can’t flush your toilet, you can’t wash your dishes you can’t brush your teeth, so everything has to be with bottled water.”
Middlebury’s interim emergency management director, Thomas Hanley, said it could take anywhere from three to six months to stop the water main breaks and completely fix the system.
Officials emphasized that the boil water advisories in effect are precautionary, and there is currently no danger from drinking town water.
“Even with the boil water notice all you can do is take a shower or wash your clothes,” Doner commented.
Right now, officials have submitted a request for a local declaration of emergency from Gov. Phil Scott in the hopes of getting state aid as well as potable emergency water for residents in need.
Hanley shared that it has cost the town close to half a million dollars in just the past three weeks of repairing the water main breaks.
“We’re running out of equipment to do this; we’re running out of staff availability to do this. These guys are working long, long days 7 days a week,” Hanley said.
Additionally, Middlebury’s water reservoir has been quickly depleting between all the breaks and leaks, which Hanley said, “our firefighter capacity has been severely diminished.”
In the meantime, crews are working to address issues as they are reported, with an outside engineering firm also retained to assist with problems that may occur.
Additionally, Middlebury’s police department is assisting the community and handing out water jugs to any residents in need. People can also fill up their own containers inside the building.
“The town understands the incident has caused a great deal of inconvenience to our citizens, and we thank them for their continued patience as our crews work to repair the unprecedented number of breaks and leaks,” the notice reads.
