Water Restored To Atwood Avenue After Two More Valves Fail

Providence Water crews restored water to a large area of Atwood Avenue on August 2, after a second water valve failure in as many days caused a shutdown of service to many local businesses.

Ken Booth, Director of Transmission and Distribution for Providence Water, explained that after crews finished the repairs to an , two other valves failed.

"We thought we had everything under control and we had water start to come through [the first] trench, and as it turns out, about 12 feet to the north, another service line let go," Booth said during an interview at the scene on August 2. "That was so heavy a flow that we had to stop doing what we were doing, and we ended up having to shut the entire main down on the street last night [August 1]."

Providence Water crews had just completed the work to repair three valves at about 2 p.m. on August 2 before trying to restart the water.

"It's going to take awhile for it to be fully restored, because we have considerable distance down the road to the pump station [near Central Avenue], and we have to get any air out of the line," Booth said. "We have to open things slowly, because if we open it quickly, we'll get a surge, which will result in water hammer, which will cause damage to pipes."

After getting the water flowing, Booth said the next task would be ensuring cleanliness.

"Our concern is to make sure that customers get a good, clean, safe supply of water," Booth explained.

State Rep. Frank Ferri, owner of Town Hall Lanes, said he suspended the bowling alley's hours during the day on August 2 because the lack of water meant that customers could not use the restrooms.

"That would have been unsanitary," Ferri explained.