Pittsfield Water System Flushing to Begin Today

10:41AM / Tuesday, April 22, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield’s Department of Public Utilities has announced that the first phase of flushing the city’s water system will commence on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Water mains throughout Pittsfield will be flushed via hydrants over the coming weeks to remove accumulations of pipeline corrosion products. The flushing will occur Monday through Friday each week, excluding holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

The initial flushing period, from April 22 to May 2, is anticipated to affect the following areas:

Starting at the Dalton Avenue town line, proceeding west through Coltsville, including lower Crane Avenue and the Meadowview neighborhood, and continuing north along Cheshire Road.
Hubbard Avenue and Downing Parkway.
Starting at the East Street town line, proceeding west through the McIntosh and Parkside neighborhoods.
Elm Street neighborhoods west to the intersection of East Street.
Starting at the Williams Street town line, proceeding west, including the Mountain Drive, Ann Drive, East New Lenox Road, and Holmes Road neighborhoods.

While the flushing process may cause temporary localized discolored water and reduced service pressure in the immediate vicinity of the work, the Department of Public Utilities states that measures will be taken to maintain proper treatment and disinfection levels within the water system. Residents experiencing discolored water are advised to run their water for a short time to allow it to clear before use.

Residents who experience persistent discolored water or low-pressure conditions are asked to contact the Water Department at (413) 499-9339.

The city’s Department of Public Utilities emphasizes that flushing is a necessary operational procedure for maintaining water quality in the distribution system and appreciates residents' patience during this period.

Tags: hydrants,

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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