Drinking Water Week is celebrated annually across the country during the first week of May. Each day this week, we’ll share a post about ways that the Northampton Department of Public Works (DPW) ensures that residents have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water.
Friday, May 9th
Water system infrastructure across the country is aging – particularly in New England, where public water supplies have existed since the 1800s. Northampton’s water system was established in the 1870s and is also showing signs of its age – two of the three reservoir dams were built over 100 years ago and the distribution system includes cast iron pipes that were installed in the 1890s! Ongoing maintenance and upgrades to the system are needed to ensure a reliable supply of high quality drinking water. See Current Projects to learn more about upcoming infrastructure improvement projects and to find out how DPW is planning for the future.
The photo below shows response to a water main break on Grant Avenue of a 6" cast iron pipe (circa 1917) at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 20, 2024.
