MWRA: Weston Leak Stable, No Service Interruption

Story Updated 3:30PM Sunday, August 29, 2010

Video by Boston.com

– Allison Goldsberry

MWRA officials say they have stabilized a small leak that opened up in a water pipeline at the agency’s Weston facility Thursday morning. The agency says the leak can be repaired without interrupting water service.

According to information posted on the MWRA website, the new leak is 220 feet from where a massive leak in May caused a disruption in water service to over 2 million in the Greater Boston area and resulted in a boil water order for three days.

The leak is apparently small and has not increased in volume, according to the MWRA. Governor Deval Patrick compared it to the “amount of water that would come out of a garden hose.”

“The leak in Weston remains stable and is not causing any service disruption. After further assessment, MWRA is optimistic that it can repair the leak while the pipe is in service. Repair efforts will begin once the repair plan is finalized and all necessary resources are on scene,” reads a statement on the MWRA’s website.

MWRA Executive Director Frederick Laskey, a Medford resident, said the new leak could possibly have something to do with the recent rainstorm.

“It may not be a coincidence that we had 5 ½ inches of rain. We don’t know how it happened, whether it’s been something that’s been leaking all along and didn’t surface until the rain, or whether the rain caused it. We don’t know,” Laskey told the Boston Globe in an interview on Thursday.