Some residents in Barre City are without potable water on Friday after a water main break on South Main Street.The city issued a systemwide boil-water notice on Thursday night after the break was detected just before 6 p.m.Crews have been working to fix the break and had to turn off the low-pressure main systemwide, causing loss of water for some residents during repairs.”This is not another crisis, you just have to get creative. This is the Vermont way,” Barre resident Beth Dunbar said.Dunbar and her neighbor Melissa Tobin-Davis needed river water to flush their toilets and do laundry. They are just two of the 3,500 customers affected by the water main break.A day without water was a challenge for local shops too.”A lot of people come in here because they can’t go someplace else. It is great for us not but not great for other people especially if it continues through the weekend,” Alexis Wells, owner of Kitten Korner on Main Street said.Not only does she have customers, but Wells has 27 thirsty cats to look after. She is still open, unlike some of her neighbors down the street and is operating off of a limited menu.Efforts to restore water service are ongoing and city officials said they expect full service to be restored by Friday evening. As of the latest update, the low-pressure system was expected to be turned back on Friday morning.City Hall offices are closed on Friday due to lack of water.City leaders say this water main break could be part of a bigger problem.”This is probably a result of the pressure of the old pipes, they are just not old enough to handle it anymore, and we are seeing things like this happen when they break,” Nicolas Storellicastro, the Barre City manager said.Storellicastro said he hopes this will be a wake-up call that Barre is in need of an upgrade. “The long-term solution is ripping up these pieces and starting with something new,” he said.Non-potable water tanks are being made available for residents at several locations throughout the city, including:Spaulding High School The dirt lot at the Barre AuditoriumThe Ayer’s Auto Sales parking lot at 572 N Main St.Residents will need to bring their own containers to collect water. Drinking water is also being ordered and will be available later on Friday in the same locations.
Some residents in Barre City are without potable water on Friday after a water main break on South Main Street.
The city issued a systemwide boil-water notice on Thursday night after the break was detected just before 6 p.m.
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Crews have been working to fix the break and had to turn off the low-pressure main systemwide, causing loss of water for some residents during repairs.
“This is not another crisis, you just have to get creative. This is the Vermont way,” Barre resident Beth Dunbar said.
Dunbar and her neighbor Melissa Tobin-Davis needed river water to flush their toilets and do laundry. They are just two of the 3,500 customers affected by the water main break.
A day without water was a challenge for local shops too.
“A lot of people come in here because they can’t go someplace else. It is great for us not but not great for other people especially if it continues through the weekend,” Alexis Wells, owner of Kitten Korner on Main Street said.
Not only does she have customers, but Wells has 27 thirsty cats to look after. She is still open, unlike some of her neighbors down the street and is operating off of a limited menu.
Efforts to restore water service are ongoing and city officials said they expect full service to be restored by Friday evening. As of the latest update, the low-pressure system was expected to be turned back on Friday morning.
City Hall offices are closed on Friday due to lack of water.
City leaders say this water main break could be part of a bigger problem.
“This is probably a result of the pressure of the old pipes, they are just not old enough to handle it anymore, and we are seeing things like this happen when they break,” Nicolas Storellicastro, the Barre City manager said.
Storellicastro said he hopes this will be a wake-up call that Barre is in need of an upgrade.
“The long-term solution is ripping up these pieces and starting with something new,” he said.
Non-potable water tanks are being made available for residents at several locations throughout the city, including:
- Spaulding High School
- The dirt lot at the Barre Auditorium
- The Ayer’s Auto Sales parking lot at 572 N Main St.
Residents will need to bring their own containers to collect water. Drinking water is also being ordered and will be available later on Friday in the same locations.
