Colonial Gardens Without Water Due to Private Line Water Main Break

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Colonial Gardens residents are on day two without water due to a water line break that occurred Sunday morning, Jan. 22. 
 
Repairs were delayed Sunday because of unforeseen soil stability issues that made it difficult to complete the repairs safely and without disruption. 
 
"They found some substrates that are high in concentrations of sand and that makes it difficult to maintain the excavation open in a safe manner," Public Services & Utilities Commissioner Ricardo Morales said. 
 
Colonial Gardens residents were notified that the Highview Drive complex would be without water for another day on Sunday.
 
As of 12:34 p.m., Colonial Garden management has asked its residents to use the exits as the entrance is closed. Repairs are projected to be complete in a couple of hours.
 
Earlier on Monday, the city released a statement indicating that the property owner has been working toward repairing the break and has been in communication with the Pittsfield and Dalton water departments.
 
As work continues, the impacted area has increased but a shutdown to other Pittsfield areas beyond that will not be necessary. 
 
The city has received reports that the area of impact has increased to the Elm Street area, south of the area,  and toward the west in the Highland street area. 
 
This break has resulted in discolored water. This will continue as repairs are underway for residents in these areas. 
 
The discoloration is caused by a velocity disturbance in the pipes caused by increases and decreases in pressure that agitates the iron particles in the pipes.
 
The discoloration is not harmful to consume. Morales said that if used to clean clothes, there is a risk they will stain. 
 
Those who experience discoloration in their water, are encouraged to run cold water on their faucets until the water clears up.
 
CodeRED communications were shared with the residents of the impacted neighborhoods when the break occurred Additional CodeRED messages will be shared today to Pittsfield residents. 
 
If discoloration does not improve, contact the Water Department at (413) 499-9339.
 
Those not currently signed up for CodeRED notifications, register here: Community Notification Enrollment (coderedweb.com).
 
Additional updates will be shared as necessary.
 

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Juveniles Charged for Digital Threats to Pittsfield Schools

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Several juveniles have been charged for posting online threats to the school district.

Over the last several weeks, the Pittsfield Police Department and the school administration have received various reports of online posts and conversations about possible school threats.
    
They were found on social media platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, and Discord.

Police say the current investigation has not yielded information regarding specific plans to target a particular school.

"The PPD takes these reports very seriously. We share information with our school department, other law enforcement agencies, and intelligence gathering centers. As part of this current investigation, the PPD has conducted searches of residences, interviewed students and parents, and seized personal electronics and other evidence," the department wrote in a press release on Monday.

"Several juveniles have been charged with criminal offenses at Berkshire Juvenile Court, and others are expected to be charged as the investigation progresses."

In a communication to the district, Superintendent Joseph Curtis said the police "took immediate action to locate the parties involved, and the parties involved have been detained."

Because of the suspects' ages, further information cannot be released at this time.

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