Brown water has been delivered to some Bridgewater homes for weeks.
The state Department of Environmental Protection declared a water supply emergency in Bridgewater on Saturday.
Some residents of Bridgewater have faced an ongoing “dirty water” crisis for weeks as brown water has come out of faucets and filled tubs and toilets, according to NBC10 Boston.
In a Town Council meeting last Tuesday, town leaders said they’d neglected the water system for 10 years and the resolution could take two years, the news station reported.
The water supply emergency was declared on Saturday as the town “works diligently to improve our critical water infrastructure” with “the utmost seriousness,” Bridgewater Water Superintendent William Young said in an announcement posted to Facebook.
The declaration extended the town’s total outdoor watering ban and established an advisory to limit indoor water usage, including taking shorter showers and only running washing machines and dishwashers when full.
“We recognize that this situation is not ideal and is inconvenient for everyone in our community,” Young wrote. “Our goal is to resolve this issue in a timely manner and return the Bridgewater water supply to normal operations as soon as possible.”
The town is home to Bridgewater State University. A university representative told Boston.com, “While discoloration has been concentrated in specific areas of town, BSU continuously assesses conditions on campus and stays coordinated with town officials should circumstances change. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to follow guidance from the town regarding water usage when appropriate, and BSU provides support by connecting them to alternative treated water resources, including the town’s PFAS-free water kiosk.”
Bridgewater is working with neighboring Middleborough to establish an emergency water supply interconnection. While that is set up, some residents may experience temporary water discoloration due to the pressure difference in the pipes, Young’s announcement said.
On Oct. 16, Bridgewater Public Works advised residents that the drinking water had excessive levels of manganese and PFAS6, which is a man-made “forever chemical.”
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.