Barre Losing Up To 80,000 Gallons Of Water A Day Due To Mystery Leak

Town Losing Up To 80,000 Gallons Of Water A Day Due To Mystery Leak

October 11, 2011 11:47 AM

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Ban, Barre, Leak, Restrictions, Water, Worcester County

BARRE (CBS) – A community in central Massachusetts is losing up to 80,000 gallons of water a day and it can’t find the leak.

The town of Barre, northwest of Worcester, has about 1,200 water customers.

Over the weekend, they noticed a significant loss in water across town.

They discovered that 60,000 to 80,000 gallons was leaking somewhere, but not in one of the town’s two water tanks.

Barre uses about 300,000 gallons a day, according to the Department of Public Works.

Until they find the leak, customers have been told to immediately conserve water, which means no outdoor watering and reduced use indoors.

Town Losing Up To 80,000 Gallons Of Water A Day Due To Mystery Leak

emom

Does anyone ever think that maybe a pipe is about to explode,, remember that one that did months ago… and now they expect the people in the town to conserve … Wonder if they will poast the cost off to the customers time will truly tell on this one.
eddwal50

well emom if you have ever been to Barre you would know there is alot of woods out there water leak must be out in the country part of town it’s already exploded
Fred

I would think that with a leak that size some homes would have a reduction in water pressure. Wouldn’t that be a reasonable way to locate the leak ??
mikeC34

Hey why cant I post?
MikeC34

Sorry..my mistake for previous post. Anyway..I’m sure they will find the leak when a huge crater opens up in the middle of the road and swallows a few cars. That will make this much easier to find, I’m sure of it.
Fred

A few years ago we had a water leak here in Burlington. It was found by a guy hiking through woods near a brook that is part of our water supply. If not for him the water might still be leaking.
Jay

Is it really that hard to find such a huge leak? The town obviously knows where it’s piping is laid. I just imagine 80,000 gallons would eventually erode it’s way to the surface of the ground and if the pipes were followed it seems like it would eventually be found. Hey, maybe I’m dead wrong, but that’s a hell of a lot of water to just disappear.
emom

Jay I agree, and with even half the amount of the water its still noticlable.. Over time we see the ground sink, sewer covers sink, and holes open up for no reason,, I have seen a hole that was from a pipe that had a leak,, For some strange reason Nobody noticed such a leak,, But the people in the neighborhood noticed alot stated there was a problem and well what do they expect,, results,, it took oh only a few years for the town to do something, and a huge hole with a sewer cover in it to finally dig up the road and repair the pipe, YEAH I am they know where the pipe is but they dont think its a huge problemm,,, AH the bill water bill is I do hope they dont pass it alone to the customers,, as so many towns do. And why would water pipes go thru unpopulated areas,,, that seems unusauall,, But i can only say that since I live on the south shore ,,,, most pipes dont go thru the large woods. But I agree follow the pipes and test the area sure they could find it that way,,, or are they even trying……