NORTH ADAMS — After six days of water issues, the boil order affecting a few remaining residents and businesses was lifted early Thursday afternoon.

The city's water was first turned off over the weekend after a string of water main breaks, prompting officials to issue a boil water order for city residents on Monday. Much of the city was given the green light by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection officials to lift the order Tuesday except for a list of addresses on American Legion Drive and near State Road.

On Thursday morning, Joe and Bessie Moran on Biltmore Avenue were still advised by the city to boil their water or use water bottles for daily tasks. By early afternoon, they could officially go back to using their water as normal, according to a notice from the city.

"It's been fine," said Bessie, who was doing some cleaning Thursday morning in her living room. "The biggest thing was being without the water, but it's to be expected."

Water began bubbling up near State Road and Biltmore Avenue on Sunday morning, said the Morans, and that is when the city came to shut it off. The water came back on Tuesday afternoon but the couple was still boiling water for dishes and using bottled water for food and drink and to brush their teeth Thursday morning.

Bessie said she hoped people were giving grace to the city workers who were out in freezing snow all weekend trying to find the leaks and breaks.

Thursday morning, Joe and Bessie Moran at 15 Biltmore Ave. were still being advised by the city to boil their water or use water bottles for their daily tasks. The couple used bottled jugs of water for food and drink and boiling water to do dishes and laundry.

"It was so cold and those guys were out there working in that cold water," she said. "I'm sure people have been screaming at them, but they can't help it."

"It is what it is," Joe added.

MassDEP lifted the boil water notice based on sampling that did not contain any total coliform or E. Coli bacteria.

A loss of water pressure from pipes breaking and bursting can result in a backflow of water through and into the distribution system and that may result in bacterial contamination, the city said. That's why the department recommended customers boil their water for at least a minute and discard any water collected on or after Sunday, including ice cubes.

A few doors down from the Morans, Ronald Thomas' house on Biltmore Avenue was still under the same boil order this morning, but in the notice the city left on front doors Tuesday, he didn't realize his address was still waiting on test results. Still, Thomas was not worried.

"I've been drinking it. I am fine," said Thomas, sipping from a glass of water while watching "Let's Make a Deal" in his living room. "It all looks clear, no issues."

Ronald Thomas' house on Biltmore Avenue was still under the same boil order Thursday morning, but in the notice the city left on front doors Tuesday, he didn't realize his address was still waiting on test results. Still, Thomas was not worried. "I've been drinking it, I am fine."

Thomas said that when the water first came back on, it was visibly dirty, but now the water is clear so he is trusting it. He shook it off: "It's not going to kill me anyways."

The hardest part of the water issues, said Thomas, was that he was without heat until the water came back on. He set up a few space heaters, but even then, he "had to sit right in front of them, or just about."

He said he called the city multiple times throughout the process to figure out what was going on.

"It's whatever," he said of the water issues, but added that he wished the city crews had more help from neighboring municipalities to speed up the job.

"It was an unfortunate situation," Mayor Jennifer Macksey said.

North Adams received help from neighboring towns Clarksburg, Adams and Williamstown, which lent equipment.

The Hotel Downstreet and its restaurant inside, Door Prize, were also still under the boil notice until Thursday afternoon. When the water went off Sunday, hotel manager Janine Vellucci said staff had to relocate guests at the hotel and anyone coming in that day. Door Prize had to close for their scheduled Sunday and Monday hours.

"It impacted our business because we lost revenue," she said. "As a hotel, we aren't a restaurant that can just close. We have guests we have to relocate ... plus we have to go in and clean everything again because of the sediment. A lot of this is recovery and being able to take care of the guests — all while the employees are dealing with this at home."

The old water pipes typically act up during cold weather, said Macksey, but this weekend was challenging because several breaks happened at once. Often when there is a water main break, crews have time to rest before tackling the next one.

For more information, contact the North Adams Water Department at 413-662-3157.