Massachusetts Water Emergency: Gov. Healey Steps In to Restore Boxford Neighborhood Water Supply (2026)

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed a Declaration of Water Emergency Wednesday after the town officials pressed the state to allow other actions to restore water service in a Boxford, Massachusetts neighborhood. Boxford Town Administrator Matt Coogan said in a series of statements that the town wanted the emergency declared because it would allow the Department of Public Utilities to bring in a licensed operator who could restore service to residents on Andrews Farm Road and Upton Lane."DPU will now assume control of the Andrews Farm Water Company system and install a new operator," a statement from Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr read. "Implementation will take place over the coming days.""Trying to get by just as best we can because we have three kids plus us in-house, so it's tough going through dishes. Can't wash dishes, can't wash clothes, can't really do anything," said resident Jeremy Reese. "What's more important now than a whole neighborhood of 53 homes not having water?" asked Jennifer Reese.The Boxford Board of Health has already issued its own emergency declaration for the Andrews Farm community on the recommendation of the governor’s office. According to Coogan, the action was taken because of "repeated service interruptions and the Andrews Farm Water Company’s failure to provide safe, reliable drinking water.""My understanding is they do have the authority to bring in another water operator to restore service, and that's what the town is trying to do at this moment," Coogan said.Coogan said that he and other town officials visited the company's pump house on Tuesday, but company representatives never arrived."Despite being notified by both the Town and the Commonwealth, AFWC has neither dispatched personnel nor provided any remedial response. In a situation affecting public health and safety, this conduct is unacceptable and deplorable," Coogan wrote in a statement issued Tuesday. Meanwhile, Coogan said the Boxford Fire Department delivered bottled water to affected residents. Twenty-four-hour bathrooms, showers and bottle-filling stations were also made available at the town fire station. A tanker truck of water will be delivered to the neighborhood by 9 a.m. Thursday.

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