NORTH ADAMS — The Water Department has issued a boil water requirement to affected areas after a string of water main breaks and leaks in the system in recent days that has left some residents near State Road without water.

On Dec. 14, 2025, a water main break occurred on the North Adams water system on State Road, said a press release from the North Adams Water Department. Public Services Commissioner Tim Lescarbeau said city crews took care of a pressure valve issue on Pattison Road "right away" over the weekend. There also was another on American Legion Road.

"Cold weather and pressure issues cause these pipes to break," said Lescarbeau.

City crews worked long hours in the freezing cold throughout the weekend to tackle the repairs.

As of shortly after 10 a.m. Monday, Public Services Commissioner Tim Lescarbeau said there were houses on State Road still without water and his crews were "getting over there to fix it."

Loss of pressure can result in backflow of water through and into the distribution system and may result in bacterial contamination, said the release, so the department is advising customers in the affected area to boil their water.

"This results in insufficient water to maintain safe water pressure or reliable service in our distribution system," said the release.

No sampling has confirmed the presence of any bacteria, but MassDEP is requiring the issuance of this public notice as a precautionary measure.

"Massachusetts drinking water standards require public water systems to maintain 20 pounds per square inch of pressure at each service connection to ensure safe water to our customers," said the Department. "These circumstances warranted advising those customers who lost service and those whose pressures dropped to below 20 psi to boil their tap water upon resumption of water service."

The city said it had issued a call to all residents and customers affected by the events and said it would update when residents were no longer advised to boil water.

The full boil water notice is attached to this story.