Enhanced water main cleaning to begin the Sunday, October 9th.
A contractor for the Water Department will be conducting some necessary improvements to your drinking water supply starting on Sunday, October 9th, until the week of October 24th. Work will take place primarily during the early morning hours of 4 AM - 7 AM. Work is scheduled tentatively at this time for alternate days effective October 11th for the following areas; North Quinsigamond Ave Corridor and West Main St, between North Quinsigamond Ave and Monadnock Dr. Continuation of this work is scheduled for Thursday October 13th - West Main St. between the India Center to Old Mill Road. Saturday October 15th - West Main St. between I-290 to Old Mill Rd. on the 12-inch transmission line. Monday, October 17th - North Quinsigamond Ave from West Main St. to the Donahue Rowing Center. Wednesday October 19th - Old Mill Rd. Between West Main St. to Audobon Drive. Friday October 21st - Old Mill Rd. from Audobon Dr. to Harrington Avenue. Work will begin primarily in the North Quinsigamond Ave corridor and West Main St. between North Quinsigamond Ave and Monadnock Dr. Continuation of this work will then move to the Old Mill Rd. - Harrington Ave -Audubon Dr. Corridors and if time allows, a portion of Boston Turnpike from North Quinsigamond Ave to Oak St. 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.
All water customers may experience water discoloration and particles resulting from valves being opened and closed to facilitate this cleaning.
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 detected 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.
Prior to a section of pipe being cleaned, customers in the immediate area will have a door hanger left a day or two ahead advising that work is about to take place.
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.
If there are any further questions or concerns, please contact Shrewsbury Water Department at (508) 841-8506.