Gloucester's latest move in tackling its combined sewer overflow project will mean a temporary shutdown of water service for part of the city Tuesday night.
And residents of the streets involved got a taste of the work — or had no sip of the city's water — during a test of the system last night.
A four-hour shutdown of the city's water system was set to be carried out last night for at least six downtown streets as the Department of Public Works tested its ability to isolate a series of valves pegged for replacement Tuesday night.
According to a notice sent from the mayor's office yesterday morning, the affected streets were to include Prospect Street, Dale Avenue, Elm Street, Chestnut Street, Pleasant Street and Warren Street, all within a few blocks of City Hall.
If the test and next week's work need to be "expanded," however, the shutoffs might also include Smith Street, Prospect Square, Shepard Street, Federal Street, Liberty Street, Allen Street and Middle Street.
Notice of last night's planned water shutdown — scheduled to run from 8 p.m. to midnight — was sent over the city's CodeRED system to residents and businesses in the affected area who had signed onto the free City Hall notification system through the city's Web site. News of last night's and next week's planned service shutdowns were also posted throughout the day yesterday at gloucestertimes.com and sent to the mobile phones of Gloucester readers who've signed up for the Times' free text-alert system on the gloucestertimes.com home page.
Kirk said in a phone interview yesterday that the project is tied to replacing a number of valves within the water system next week. She emphasized that the work was planned, and does not signal the onset of any new water-quality issues or emergency.
The work is part of the city's combined sewer overflow project that aims to address and cut down on the flow of combined sewer and stormwater running off into Gloucester Harbor.
Kirk said the city will also send out advisories to residents and businesses next week as the actual valve replacement approaches on Tuesday.
The city announcement warned those in the affected area that, after the water came back on line last night or early this morning, residents may experience brown water "for a short period of time." If that problem persists, the announcement said, residents are encouraged to contact the Department of Public Works at 978-281-9785.
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