Crews patch up broken water main

SAUGUS – Crews patched up a broken water main on Dewey Street Friday, after Department of Public Works Director Joe Attubato said it had been leaking up to 36,000 gallons a day.”This was discovered by a firm I hire every year for leak detection,” said Attubato. “This particular leak is 25 gallons per minute and costing the town almost $100 a day.”Attubato said neighbors in the area hadn’t been complaining about their water pressure, but said with the six-inch pipe repaired, they should definitely notice a difference.”We couldn’t believe it, the pipe is right next to a home that didn’t notice any decrease in his pressure,” said Attubato. “When he turns his faucet on he’s going to know it.”Most of the water leaking drained into a wooded area at the end of Dewey Street.The leak on Dewey Street is one of many around town that Attubato said he’s planning to fix.Other areas with leaky pipes include Bow Street, Birchwood Avenue and Clifton Street, all of which are leaking at a rate of at least 10 gallons per minute.”We have the weather in our favor,” said Attubato.”We have no snow to hold us up. Last year we couldn’t do anything until the spring,” Attubato said.Attubato said there were 42 water main breaks in Saugus in 2011, with each one having an average cost of around $8,000 to $10,000 to fix.Matt Tempesta may be reached at [email protected].