The town of Chester in Massachusetts has started distributing bottled water to customers of its small municipal water utility after issuing a boil water order. The town’s water commissioners imposed the order after meeting with representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection at the water treatment plant. The yellow discoloration in the water is believed to be from manganese, but test results are pending.
Residents are advised to boil water for at least one minute before consuming it or using it for dishes. The order does not apply to homes with their own wells. The town, with a population of 1,200 residents, serves just 250 households in the village along Route 20.
Carm’s Restaurant and Coffee Shop in the affected area was closed on Thursday due to the water issue. The town’s water system has experienced manganese contamination in the past, particularly when temperatures are high or there is heavy rainfall. This year, sediment may have been introduced into the system during pump efficiency procedures at the Austin Reservoir.
Town administrator Donald F. Humason Jr., a former mayor and legislator, stated that the main challenge for a small town like Chester is the limited number of staff and volunteers available to distribute water. Customers are advised to use bottled or boiled water for drinking, making ice, food preparation, brushing teeth, and washing dishes until further notice. Boiling water kills bacteria and other organisms that may be present.
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