By Steven Fletcher
Staff Writer
—
Residents and businesses on Rogers and Main streets will have their water service shut down tonight, and hopefully have it back Wednesday morning, city officials said.
The city's Department of Public Works and its contractor C. Naughton will start working at 10 tonight on a new water main and valves in the city's West End. The work comes as Public Works crews separate storm and sanitary sewer lines for the second phase of the city's combined sewer overflow project and National Grid contractor NEUCO replaces gas mains through the downtown.
Crews will shut water off to businesses and residences between Middle and Rogers streets, and from Washington Street to Pleasant Street, Public Works Director Mike Hale said Monday. Hale added that crews will restore the water service as soon as possible Wednesday morning.
"We apologize in advance for any inconvenience you may incur during this process," said Hale.
Public Works has separated the sewer lines for most of the winter, following National Grid's gas line work, which it started in December.
The shut-off isn't the only water work residents will face this week. The city is also switching its water treatment between plants Wednesday.
On Wednesday evening, the Department of Public Works will switch drawing water from the West Gloucester treatment plant to the Babson plant.
That shift comes as the DPW's contractors replace water lines along Stacy Boulevard and in the Commonwealth Avenue neighborhood.
With both plants in motion, city environmental engineer Larry Durkin said the city can supply water to the island and West Gloucester, should something happen with the central main on Stacy Boulevard.
Switching treatment plants results in a change in the direction of flow in some water mains. The move may cause temporary discoloration of tap water in homes and businesses throughout the city as iron particles in the pipes are dislodged.
Durkin said that if residents experience rusty water, they should simply run water for a few minutes to clear the line.
Steven Fletcher may be contacted at 1-978-283-7000 x3455, or sfletcher@gloucestertimes.com. Follow him on Twitter at @stevengdt.
