2010 Boston water emergency
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
The 2010 Boston water emergency occurred on May 1, 2010, when a water pipe in Weston, Massachusetts, broke and began flooding into the Charles River. This led to unsanitary water conditions in the greater Boston area, which resulted in Governor Deval Patrick declaring a state of emergency and an order for residents to boil drinking water. The leak was stopped on May 2. On May 4, the order was lifted.{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5geDUvZfc7dzGJd8oa6hV7msLnuEwD9FFTLQO1 |title=Boil water order is lifted for 2M in Boston area |access-date=4 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507041238/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5geDUvZfc7dzGJd8oa6hV7msLnuEwD9FFTLQO1 |archive-date=7 May 2010 |url-status=dead }} President Barack Obama signed an emergency disaster declaration offering federal help, authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts with Massachusetts.{{cite web|url=http://www.wbur.org/2010/05/03/obama-disaster-declaration |title=Obama Declares Mass. Emergency For Water Break |website=WBUR.org |date=2010-05-03 |accessdate=2016-08-20}}
MWRA executive director Frederick Laskey called the break "catastrophic"{{cite web |url=http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/23337764/detail.html |title=MWRA Water Main Break Triggers State Of Emergency | WCVB Home – WCVB Home |publisher=Thebostonchannel.com |date=2010-05-02 |accessdate=2016-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320072958/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/23337764/detail.html |archive-date=2012-03-20 |url-status=dead }} and "everyone's worst nightmare in the water industry".{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/yourtown/framingham/articles/2010/05/02/a_catastrophic_rupture_hits_regions_water_system/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed3 | newspaper=The Boston Globe | title=A 'catastrophic' rupture hits region's water system | first1=Michael | last1=Levenson | first2=Beth | last2=Daley | date=2010-05-02}}
Chronology
At about 10:00{{nbsp}}am on May 1, a collar connecting two sections of {{convert|10|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} pipe{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/05/03/mass_says_broken_pipe_could_be_fixed_within_days?mode=PF |title=Hope of fix within days |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507145520/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/05/03/mass_says_broken_pipe_could_be_fixed_within_days?mode=PF |archivedate=May 7, 2010 }} ruptured in Weston, Massachusetts, disrupting the connection between the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel and the City Tunnel.{{cite web|url=http://www.mwra.com/|title=MWRA homepage|accessdate=2010-05-02}}
With the water supply cut off, the emergency water supply reserve system from surrounding ponds was routed to the main water supply.
The rupture worsened as the afternoon progressed, eventually resulting in the loss of access to clean water from the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs for approximately two million residents of 31 cities and towns, including Boston. At the height of the spill, approximately {{convert|8|e6USgal|m3}} of water entered the Charles River per hour. By evening, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority had activated the backup water system, which was drawing water from the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, and Spot Pond Reservoir. The Sudbury Aqueduct supplied additional water to the Chestnut Hill reservoir from the Sudbury Reservoir and the Framingham #3 reservoir. Because water from these older surface reservoirs is not treated, the MWRA issued a boil order for the affected communities.{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/05/02/a_catastrophic_rupture_hits_regions_water_system/|title=A 'catastrophic' rupture hits region's water system | newspaper=The Boston Globe | first1=Michael | last1=Levenson | first2=Beth | last2=Daley | date=2010-05-02}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/01news/2010/boilwaterorder1.htm |title=Mwra - Mwra Water Main Break Requires Water Ban, Boil Water Order |website=Mwra.state.ma.us |date= |accessdate=2016-08-20}}
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) issued an emergency water notice for the Boston area. Governor Deval Patrick issued a state of emergency and a boil-water advisory for Boston and a dozen surrounding communities, affecting nearly two million people.{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/05/catastrophic_le.html |title='Boil-water' order issued for nearly 2 million in Mass. |newspaper=The Boston Globe |first1=Martin |last1=Finucane |first2=Beth |last2=Daley |first3=John M. |last3=Guilfoil |first4=Sean |last4=Teehan |first5=Caitlin |last5=Castello |date=May 1, 2010 |accessdate=2 May 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503233105/http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/05/catastrophic_le.html |archivedate=3 May 2010 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.mwra.com/updates/leak.html |title=EMERGENCY WATER NOTICE | Starting May 1, 2010 - Updated Regularly |website=MWRA.com |date= |accessdate=2016-08-20}}
Local agency officials used a variety of means to inform locals about the situation{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/03/us/03boston.html |author=Derrick Henry|title=Ruptured Pipe Cuts Water in Boston|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 2, 2010|accessdate=2016-08-20}} including location based SMS, Boston's reverse 911 citizen alert system, highway alert signs, driving through affected neighborhoods with bullhorns, and other emergency management systems. As a result of the water boil order, many residents rushed to purchase bottled water at local stores. Many stores quickly sold out of water, and bottled water companies increased shipments at the request of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, maintaining availability at other stores.{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/05/demand_for_bott.html |title = Coakley to review water price gouging allegations - Local News Updates - MetroDesk - The Boston Globe |accessdate=2010-05-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505145458/http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/05/demand_for_bott.html |archivedate=2010-05-05 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.patriotledger.com/lifestyle/health_and_beauty/x1195009876/You-don-t-have-to-go-far-to-buy-water |title = Bottled water still available at stores in eastern Massachusetts - Quincy, MA - The Patriot Ledger |accessdate=2010-05-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509014506/http://www.patriotledger.com/lifestyle/health_and_beauty/x1195009876/You-don-t-have-to-go-far-to-buy-water |archivedate=2010-05-09 }}
Local stores quickly sold out their supplies of bottled water, and the Massachusetts National Guard was dispatched to deliver additional bottled water. The state government also asked bottled-water suppliers to increase their deliveries to the area. Many cafes such as Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts that depended on municipal water for coffee production were closed or forced to operate with limited functionality.
By May 2, workers had stopped the spill and begun repairs on the pipe and MWRA officials reported steady water pressure on the night of May 2.
Experts and officials associated with the MWRA interviewed by reporters[http://www.necn.com/pages/landing?Boil-water-order-What-you-need-to-know=1&blockID=227079&feedID= Boil water order: What you need to know], NECN Comcast Network, May 2, 2010.[http://www.necn.com/05/02/10/Weston-water-main-break-not-worst-case/landing_newengland.html?blockID=227412&feedID=4206 Weston water main break not worst-case], NECN Comcast Network, May 2, 2010.[https://archive.today/20130121132820/http://www.dailynewstribune.com/features/x826102585/Boil-water-order-remains-in-effect-but-progress-reported-on-water-main-break Boil-water order remains in effect], but progress reported on water main break, Daily News Tribune, by Glen Johnson of the Associated Press, May 2, 2010. stated that the boil-water order was necessary because the backup reservoirs were untreated and unmonitored by bacterial cultures, which take a few days to run; similar situations had resulted in bacterial contamination bad enough to cause distressing gastrointestinal symptoms in otherwise healthy adults.
On May 4, 2010, at 3:00{{nbsp}}am, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority announced that Governor Patrick had lifted the water-boil order for all but one of affected communities, Saugus. In a press conference later that morning, Patrick stated that tests had since cleared the water in Saugus as well.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6432V620100504?type=domesticNews|title=Boil-water ban lifted for Boston area | work=Reuters | first=Scott | last=Malone | date=May 4, 2010| accessdate= 7 May 2010 }}
The test results indicated that the bacteria levels in the emergency supply were not atypical for a normal day. If this had been known earlier, the boil-water order would have been unnecessary.
[http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/05/05/turns_out_water_was_ok_to_drink_after_all/ Tests confirm it — water was OK to drink all weekend] Boston.com, May 5, 2010
No health effects for vulnerable classes, such as infants, pregnant women, and those with a compromised immune system, were reported in secondary sources during this event.
The engineering investigation{{cite web |url=http://www.amwa.net/galleries/default-file/MWRA%20Case%20Study%207-7-11.pdf |title=Multi-agency Response to a Major Water Pipe Break : A Massachusetts Case Study and Evaluation : Final Report |website=Amwa.net |accessdate=2016-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820192406/http://www.amwa.net/galleries/default-file/MWRA%20Case%20Study%207-7-11.pdf |archive-date=2016-08-20 |url-status=dead }} following the incident found that the break was caused by failure of the coupling bolts.{{cite web|last=Pantic|first=Zorica|title=MWRA MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel Shaft 5A Pipe Break—Pipe Failure Scenario Report|url=http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/01news/2011/052511-mwra-report-final.pdf|website=Mwra.state.ma.us|accessdate=4 June 2013}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news|last=LeBlanc|first=Steve|title=Report: Bolt Failure Caused 2010 Weston Water Main Break|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/05/25/report-bolt-failure-caused-2010-weston-water-main-break/|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=4 June 2013}}{{cite news|last=Daley|first=Beth|title=Wrong studs led to water main break, report says|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/05/26/wrong_studs_led_to_2010_water_main_break_report_says/|newspaper=The Boston Globe|accessdate=4 June 2013|date=26 May 2011}} Inspection of recovered bolts and bolt fragments found that the bolts were poorly manufactured and sized incorrectly for the load.
Affected communities
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
- Allston
- Arlington
- Belmont
- Boston
- Brighton
- Brookline
- Canton
- Chelsea
- Everett
- Hanscom Air Force Base
- Lexington
- Lynnfield W.D.
- Malden
- Marblehead
- Medford
- Melrose
- Milton
- Nahant
- Newton
- Norwood
- Quincy
- Reading
- Revere
- Saugus
- Somerville
- Stoneham
- Swampscott
- Waltham
- Wakefield
- Watertown
- Winchester
- Winthrop
{{div col end}}