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Selectmen address resident concerns over water main breaks and town notifications
Summary
Board members discussed two water main breaks the previous week, said drinking water remained safe, and directed improved notification procedures for future incidents.
Board members and the town administrator discussed resident concerns about insufficient communication after two water main breaks the prior weekend and outlined steps to improve notifications.
The town administrator said two separate breaks occurred Thursday night; police posted notice on social media and the town will post repair notices to the Town of Blackstone website and Facebook page going forward. The administrator acknowledged a lapse in internal notification to his office early Friday and said he has asked public works to notify him regardless of the hour so he can post timely updates. He said the water remained safe to drink and that monthly bacteriological sampling completed around the same time returned normal results.
Officials said repair work required lane restrictions on Rathbun Street for a single day while a specialty contractor (identified during the meeting as Boyle and Fogarty) accessed an 8‑foot valve. The administrator advised residents that temporary discoloration can occur after flushing and recommended visiting DPW for clothing treatment guidance rather than using home bleach treatments.
Selectmen emphasized documenting all outreach steps and urged a town‑wide push to enroll residents in the town’s notification system so fewer people miss urgent notices. No formal vote was taken.
