LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield Center Water District reported an emergency 12” water main break on Main Street in the vicinity of 636 Main St., between Summer Street and Carter Road at 1 p.m. Monday, shutting down water service to customers in the affected areas.
LCWD Director/Capital Program Director/DPW Director John Scenna said 60,000 gallons of water were lost from storage tanks in just 20 minutes, but LCWD customers were fortunate the break occurred during the day. He said water service was restored at approximately 6:30 p.m., and he expected another “hour-plus of clean-up.
“Had this happened at night, by the time crews reported, we would have lost so much more water,” he said. “Because we had crews already at work, we were able to isolate the system and minimize the loss of water and money. We also had our water system repair coordinator, GTC, working nearby on a repair on Edward Avenue, so that was also fortunate and helped us respond quickly with a minimum amount of damage.”
Crews were on site by 1:30 p.m. LCWD coordinated traffic impact with the assistance of the Lynnfield Police Department.
Water was turned off in the following areas: Main Street from Summer Street to Phillips Road, Carter Road, Willard Lane, Grant Road, Stanley Road, Saunders Road, Ashley Court, Marble Hill Drive, and Center Village.
Scenna advised residents in the neighborhoods and areas off Essex Street, Forest Hill Avenue, Homestead Road and Chatham Way they may see slight discoloration and pressure issues from water flow reversals.
Residents were advised to take the following precautions when water service is restored:
- Turn on the cold water and let it run until it is clear, preferably from an outside water spigot.
- Do not run hot water or use the dishwasher until the water is clear.
- Do not use the washing machine as clothes may become stained.
- While the water is safe to drink, please avoid drinking the water if it is discolored.
- Residents may need to flush their toilet several times to clear the discolored water from the toilet tank.
- If hot water is accidentally used while the water is discolored, it may be necessary to completely flush the hot water tank to clear out the discolorations and there is a possibility that there may be damage to hot water heaters.
Please visit the LCWD website at www.LCWD.US for up-to-date information or contact the office at 781-334-3901 with any questions.
