Flowers need water - and Flower Ave. residents have had their fair share

Flooded basements and severed service are nothing new for residents along Flower Avenue East. Water Superintendent Gary Pilon has included a history of water main breaks in the City Council’s agenda:

• May 2, 2003: Flower Avenue East at Nellis Street – Crew arrived at 7:45 a.m., Water Department dispatched at 8:15 a.m. Nine to 10 basements flooded due to water backing up through the floor drains. Basements pumped. Replaced 6 feet of pipe.
• Feb. 25, 2003: Break in front of 307 Flower Ave. E. reported at 4:30 p.m. Water Department arrived at 5:00 p.m. Service shut off at 7:30 p.m. No cellars reported flooded. Frost reported on the ground.
• July 23, 2004: Break in front of 361 Flower Ave. E. Leak reported at 5:00 a.m. and crew arrived 5:30 a.m. Service shut off by 5:50 a.m. Two basements had water in them that drained out when the main was shut. Pipe split 58 inches lengthwise.
• July 3, 2006: Break reported at 6 a.m. in front of 327 Flower Ave. E. Crew arrived at 6:45 a.m., and water was shut off by 7:30 a.m. Uncounted number of basements pumped by the fire department. Pipe split 6 inches lengthwise.
• The most recent incident occurred March 5 in front of 331 Flower Ave. E. The leak was first reported at 6:51 a.m. The Water Department was on the scene at 8 a.m. Service shut off by 8:15 a.m. Fire department pumped water from 19 basements. Three foot section of pipe was “blown out.” Service replaced by mid afternoon.