BCWA's cross bay pipeline springs a leak

Officials trying to determine scope, location of leak; shutdown possible but officials have backup plan

By Ted Hayes
Posted 4/11/19

The main pipeline supplying water to thousands of residents in Barrington, Bristol and Warren has sprung a leak, and Bristol County Water Authority officials are trying to determine where it is, and …

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BCWA's cross bay pipeline springs a leak

Officials trying to determine scope, location of leak; shutdown possible but officials have backup plan

Posted

The main pipeline supplying water to thousands of residents in Barrington, Bristol and Warren has sprung a leak, and Bristol County Water Authority officials are trying to determine where it is, and how to fix it.

The leak, at the Providence Port Authority parking lot at Fields Point, was first discovered Tuesday, April 9 and confirmed by BCWA flow meters, which detected an increase in flow from a water supply meter in Providence.

In a press conference held just after noon Thursday at East Providence City Hall, BCWA Executive Director Pamela Marchand said officials are not sure of the precise location of the leak, but that it lies approximately eight to 14 feet under ground.

"A thorough investigation of the pipe materials and possible location is required before any digging can start," she wrote in a fact sheet handed out Thursday.

BCWA officials hope to repair the leak without shutting down the pipeline, which runs underneath upper Narragansett Bay from Fields Point to East Providence, and then south into Bristol County. However, in case a shutdown is required, the BCWA has asked that East Providence run a test of its backup supply pipeline to Bristol County, which runs through an emergency interconnect system installed several years ago.

"We are engaging engineering consultants and pipeline inspection consultants to determine the best methods to proceed."

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.