Water Service Restored in Boxford After State Emergency declaration
boxford, MA – Residents of a Boxford, Massachusetts neighborhood have water service restored after a prolonged outage prompted Governor Maura Healey to declare a water emergency, bringing in Aquarion Water Company to take control of the troubled system. The disruption, the second in ten days, left residents without reliable access to water for essential needs, raising concerns about public health and aging infrastructure.
The emergency declaration allowed the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to assume control and seek a new operator for the affected well. Governor Healey emphasized that “Public Water Suppliers have a responsibility to provide safe,healthy,and clean water to Massachusetts residents,” underscoring the seriousness of the situation. The issue stemmed from a combination of factors, including a recent bacterial issue and the overall deterioration of the town’s aging water infrastructure.
Residents first experienced a water outage due to a bacterial issue before Tuesday’s complete loss of service. “When we have water, we can’t use it properly,” said resident laura Leduc. “It’s exhausting.” Others echoed her concerns, describing the situation as a “health hazard” impacting basic hygiene and sanitation. “You can’t take a shower, flushing toilets. It’s just been very, very challenging,” stated Bob Cassidy, a long-time resident.
Town officials requested the governor’s intervention, leading to Aquarion Water Company’s assignment to investigate the cause of the outages and implement solutions.”It’s nice the state is going to ensure that this thing is working properly, and then we’ll take it from there,” Cassidy added.
Throughout the crisis, the town provided support to residents, opening the fire station for showers and restroom access, offering a water tanker for non-potable uses, and establishing a water bottle filling station at the police station. Bottled water was also delivered directly to homes. An 8,000-gallon water tanker remained available in the neighborhood through the weekend to ensure continued access to water.
“Everyone is focused on this problem,” said local official Tarr. “We will all stay engaged in this to find a long-term solution.” Flo Egan, a 30-year resident, noted the broader issue of aging infrastructure, stating, “As the infrastructure is getting older and older, we’re having breakdowns more often.”
