Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) Outage Report & Status

💧 Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) Water Distribution System & Pressure Maintenance

Overseeing municipal drinking water supply and wastewater infrastructure across MA, Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) operates regional water treatment filtration plants, high-capacity booster pumping stations, and hundreds of miles of cast iron, ductile iron, and prestressed concrete cylinder mains. When seasonal soil shifting, freezing temperatures, or high-pressure water main fractures occur, pressure across the distribution grid drops below regulatory thresholds (typically 20 PSI), triggering mandatory Boil Water Advisories. Currently, 1 active water main disruptions are under repair.

🚨 CDC & EPA Boil Water Advisory Survival Protocol

Whenever Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) issues a precautionary or mandatory boil water notice due to main line depressurization:

• Bring Water to a Rolling Boil for One Full Minute: Boil all tap water vigorously for at least 60 seconds (3 full minutes at elevations above 6,500 feet) before using it for drinking, food preparation, making infant formula, washing fruits and vegetables, brushing teeth, or pet consumption.
• Do Not Rely on Household Pitcher or Refrigerator Filters: Standard carbon-block pitcher filters (Brita, PUR) and refrigerator water dispensers remove heavy metals and chlorine taste but do NOT eliminate microbial pathogens, Giardia cysts, or coliform bacteria.
• Ice Makers & Dishwashers: Turn off automatic ice makers and discard any ice produced after the onset of the pressure drop. Run dishwashers only if the final rinse cycle reaches at least 150°F (65°C) or has a sanitizing cycle.