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Water main break cuts off service to 70 percent of Gloucester

Print | Comments () Posted by Martin Finucane December 20, 2010 07:42 PM

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By Katheleen Conti, Globe Staff

A major water main broke in Gloucester this afternoon, cutting off water supply to about 70 percent of the city, but repairs were completed by about 7 p.m., the mayor said.

Still, city schools will be closed Tuesday and residents will likely remain under a boil-water order until Wednesday, said Mayor Carolyn A. Kirk.

The main broke on Western Avenue near Stage Fort Park around 1 p.m., state and city officials said.

Kirk said residents should expect water pressure to return soon. Water quality testing is expected to begin Tuesday morning. The boil-water order requires residents to boil water for one minute and businesses for five.

The break occurred after a Wakefield contractor working on the site to replace a portion of the 100-year-old water main mistakenly removed a portion of the reserve water main that was in use during construction, said Gloucester Deputy Fire Chief Steve Aiello.

The break was just the latest in a long line of water supply woes for the city, including two water main breaks just hours apart in November on Western Avenue and Bond Street, as well as an 18-day boil-water order last year because of coliform bacteria.

Kirk said the city is trying to keep up repairs to its "vulnerable" water system, spending $15 million in the last 12 months.

"We're America's oldest seaport," she said. "Our infrastructure is aging and we're being aggressive in repairing it."