Broken pump causes water emergency in Upton

UPTON

The main water pump that supplies most of the town of Upton broke down today, prompting local officials to immediately urge conservation efforts in order to avert a crisis.

The town has two days worth of water stored in emergency tanks, town officials said, and workers are trying to install a new pump before that runs out. In the meantime, officials are also trying to arrange backup water from neighboring towns.

"People have to conserve their water," said Marsha Paul, the chairwoman of Upton's Board of Selectmen. "Otherwise there might not be any in the next couple of days."

Paul declared an emergency and authorized funds for the purchase of the new main pump. The broken pump will be repaired and kept in service as a backup, she said.

"I don't want this ever to happen again," she said.

-- Calvin Hennick