Starting on Wednesday October 10th, water main cleaning using a technology called Ice Pigging will start on Boylston Circle and will progress northerly through the Wachusett Ave. - Longfellow Rd. - Browning Rd. area over the next 10 to 12 day period. This procedure is an alternative to flushing mains, especially mains that might be causing issues with discolored water. Ice Pigging is a technique that is more effective than flushing in removing particles and sediments from pipe walls. An ice slurry is pumped through a section of main to “clean” it.
For those customers that are serviced directly by a water main that is being cleaned, during the flushing process, a small amount of sodium chloride (table salt) may enter your service line. Customers should avoid using water during the time of the main cleaning and should run their taps for 2 to 3 minutes prior to using the water for drinking or cooking, after the completion of the procedure. If a salty taste is detected, run your tap for a longer period of time. Generally, if you detect a cooler temperature of the water from your tap, you have sufficiently flushed out your service line. If the water becomes very cold, continue to run your tap for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. For Healthy individuals, the sodium intake from water is not important, because a much greater intake of sodium takes place from salt in the diet. However, sodium levels above the recommended upper limit of 50 milligrams per liter may be a concern to individuals on sodium restricted diets, or those on dialysis.
The proposed work schedule at this time is listed below and subject to change depending on field conditions. In general, the work in each particular section will be from 8 A.M. - 12 P.M. daily:
October 10th - Boylston Circle (Stone Meadow Rd. to Wheelock St.)
October 10th - Boylston Circle (Second Pass - Stone Meadow Rd. to Wheelock St.)
October 10th - Gulf St. (Boylston Circle to Wheelock Rd.)
October 10th - Gulf St. (Second Pass - Boylston Circle to Wheelock Rd.)
October 11th - Gulf St. (Browning Rd. to Wheelock St.)
October 12th - Gulf St. (Second Pass - Browning Rd. to Wheelock St.)
October 15th - Bryant Ave. (Browning Rd. from Wachusett Circle to Bryant Ave., Wachusett Ave. from Longfellow Rd. to Bryant Ave. and all of Bryant Ave.)
October 15th - Longfellow Rd. (Wachusett Ave. to Browning Rd.)
October 16th- Browning Rd. (Longfellow Rd. from Wachusett Ave. to Browning Rd. and all of Browning Rd.)
October 17th - Wadsworth Rd. (All of Wadsworth Rd and lower Browning Rd. from intersection of Wadsworth Rd. to end)
October 17th - Wachusett Ave. (Wachusett Ave. from intersection of Longfellow Rd. for entire length)
Adjacent areas may temporarily experience discolored water as a result of work being done in these listed areas. This work in conjunction with other system and treatment improvement work underway should make a substantial difference in present and future water quality. If there are any further questions or concerns, please contact Shrewsbury Water Department at (508) 841-8506.