A water main break near Ashmont station in Dorchester disrupted local businesses and residents, as well as subway service on the Red Line early Wednesday morning. The Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) responded to the leak Tuesday evening and worked diligently to rectify an elbow joint issue which caused several inches of water to flood the area. As a result of the flooding, some businesses and neighbors experienced severe inconvenience, supplemented by power outages that compounded the disruption.
Red Line commuters faced delays throughout the morning, with shuttle buses replacing train service between Ashmont and JFK/UMass stations. According to the MBTA's official status update, the Power Department needed to first safely resolve electrical issues before train services could fully resume. "We apologize for the inconvenience and expect [to] make repairs expeditiously," BWSC mentioned in a public statement. Commuters were advised to plan their morning travel with these interruptions in mind, as services were only to gradually return to normal.
Red Line Ashmont Branch: Shuttle buses are replacing service between Ashmont and JFK/UMass while the Power Department continues to work on issues related to last night’s water main break near Ashmont station.
— MBTA (@MBTA) September 18, 2024
Residents have been warned of discolored water—a result of sediment influx due to the pipe damage. While BWSC assured the public that the water is safe to drink, they advised against using it to wash clothes, which could lead to staining. BWSC spokesperson Tom Bagley provided guidance to those affected, stating, "We ask people just to run your water. You may not wanna wash clothes right away until the rust dissipates and it's gone. I would just wait, if you're gonna use your water drinking and stuff, just hold off until it becomes clear. Run your cold water until it become clear," in a statement obtained by NBC Boston. Residents may need to run their water for hours before clarity is restored.
By approximately 7:20 a.m., the MBTA announced that power repairs were completed, and limited Red Line service had been restored, although delays continued to affect the Ashmont and JFK/UMass stretch. Despite this progress, the MBTA and BWSC have kept an "active trench" in place near the site of the water main issue, signaling ongoing work to fully mend the blemish in the neighborhood's infrastructure. No immediate timetable for a complete resolution was provided, leaving some uncertainty in the community.
