Lowell Regional Water Utility Responds to, Repairs Water Main Break Under Andover Street

Lowell Regional Water Utility workers dig through approximately a foot of concrete to locate a break in an eight-inch water main under Andover Street near the Tewksbury town line on Thursday. Work crews were able to shut off water to the area, locate the break and repair the break in about 18 hours. Water service has been fully restored. (Photo Courtesy Lowell Department of Public Works)

LOWELL — The Lowell Regional Water Utility responded to and repaired a break in an eight-inch water main under Andover Street on Thursday, working more than 18 hours to restore water service.

On Thursday, Nov. 6, at approximately 4:30 a.m., the Department of Public Works Water Utility Division was notified of a possible water main break in the area of Andover Street and the Tewksbury town line.

A Water Department Foreman responded immediately and confirmed the break. A work crew was brought in on an emergency basis to shut off water flow to the broken eight-inch water main. Approximately 75 customers lost water service as a result of the required shut off.

Due to the interconnectivity of the city’s aging water infrastructure, locating the appropriate shutoff valves stopping water flow can take hours.

The main was shut off at about 10 a.m., allowing the work crew to begin locating the break, cutting and jackhammering through approximately a foot of concrete that is under Andover Street.

Crews relied on decades-old maps to dig into Andover Street, first exposing the general area of the broken water main before digging further to pinpoint the exact leak.

Crews swiftly cut out the damaged pipe section and sealed a new replacement into place. Water service was fully restored to all affected customers by approximately 10 p.m.

“This situation underscores the reality of our aging infrastructure. Turning off the water after a major main break is incredibly complex—there’s no simple button to push to redirect flow,” said Lowell Chief Utility Officer Aaron Fox. “Our crews skillfully managed the shutoff, located the break, and completed the repair to restore service as fast as possible.

“Our workers don’t rest until service is back. In this case, they worked for more than 18 hours straight. I want to express my deepest thanks for their dedication and skill, and I also want to thank the area residents for their patience while these critical repairs were underway.”

“Workers at the Lowell Regional Water Utility often have to act as first responders when our aging infrastructure fails, and I appreciate their hard work and dedication tremendously,” said City Manager Thomas A. Golden, Jr. “When residents are in need, these workers respond and they don’t quit until the job is done.”