Dalton Water Crews Fixing Leak on North Street

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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Water Department crews are working on water main leak on North Street.
DALTON, Mass. — It's been a busy couple of days for the Dalton Water Department's four-man crew who have been addressing a couple of water leaks. 
 
Drivers on North Street approaching the bridge will see the crew working with REWC Land Management, Inc. employees to locate a water main and repair the leak. 
 
Water Department Superintendent Bob Benlien emphasized that the leak is minor and does not affect any residents. He does not foresee having to turn the water off and expects it to be repaired by the end of the day. 
 
The leak was so minor that it did not appear in the department's flow chart, so it is less than 100 gallons a minute, he said. 
 
The likely cause is aging infrastructure as the pipe was installed in the 1930s, Benlien explained. 
 
The main thing is finding the pipe and the leak, which they are currently doing. The road has changed over time, and it looks like the pipe was moved when the bridge was built up so the department is searching for the pipe and leak now. 
 
The water main is located on a state road with a gas main within close proximity, so the department opted to contract  REWC because it has a vacuum excavation truck.
 
The repairs will cost about $10,000, but the department has funds budgeted for issues like this. 
 
The department was also called to a private property on Pease Avenue for a water service leak at 7 p.m. last night and was on site until 1 a.m. addressing the issue. 
 
The water was turned off and the owner of the property will be hiring a plumber for further repairs. 

Tags: water department,   water line,   

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Pittsfield Park Getting Basketball Court Renovations

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The basketball courts at Dorothy Amos Park will see some renovations for players of all ages who use them.  

On Thursday, the Conservation Commission OK'd court paving and repainting on the property at 320 West St. One of the courts will be milled, and all three will be repainted. 

The park, which also has a playground and seating areas, is along the West Branch of the Housatonic River, and the work requires ConCom approval. Dorothy Amos Park is a popular recreation spot in the West Side neighborhood, and is home to the Beat the Streets youth summer basketball league. 

Conservation Agent Shannon Poulin reported concern about a tree with roots growing through one of the courts, and that the tree will more than likely need to be cut down. 

"Other than that, I mean, the courts already exist, and it's just an upgrade," she said. 

Commissioner Jonathan Lothrop commented that he has seen roots become a problem long after the tree is removed. As a taxpayer, he would like to see the tree's root system removed to avoid spending more money on it in the future. 

Work was approved with two special conditions: all materials are stored outside of the resource areas, and erosion controls are to be placed along the fence line before work begins.

In other news, commissioners issued 20 orders of conditions for the filling of an isolated wetland on property located at 100 Dan Fox Drive, or Bousquet Sport.  

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