Water line woes keep crews busy in Worcester

WORCESTER - Residents on Amesbury Street got a surprise Friday morning when their quiet neighborhood road suddenly turned into a river.

This water main break, one of four in the city within 24 hours, was near the intersection of Knight Street and dumped hundreds of gallons of water toward Oakview Street, cutting water service to houses in the area and covering the road with dirt and debris.

Worcester Public Works employee Mike Denault, who was working nearby, said that when he arrived, Amesbury Street was like a river. The water did not get high enough to get into homes, but covered the road.

Crews were also on hand nearby on Plantation Street near Interstate 290, and on Brierway Drive off Massasoit Road in the southern part of the city. Motorists are advised to avoid those streets. Another occurred on Cambridge Street near Camp Street, the only break for which repairs had not been confirmed by Friday evening.

Working at the Amesbury Street water break, Public Works employee Phil Gagnon said all three breaks came within a short time of each other. He said the Amesbury Street leak may have been caused by a surge through the line caused by the Plantation Street break. He said the city has also been busy repairing leaks to home water services.

"We have to get those leaks repaired due to the drought," Mr. Gagnon said.

Breaks and leaks are more common in the winter and spring due to frost. Although it is unclear why they are happening this summer, Mr. Gagnon said very warm and dry weather this summer may have been a factor.

The break on Amesbury Street was expected to take several hours to repair. A Public Works employee was stopping along the street to tell homeowners they could be out of water for six to eight hours.