District Emergency Preparedness
In August the District purchased a new hydro excavation vehicle to improve emergency response to broken water mains. The District will now be able to perform emergency repairs in-house without the costly expense of hiring an outside contractor. Most important, the District will not have to wait for a contractor to arrive and perform repairs. The District will be able to provide quicker response to broken water mains. In addition, the new vehicle will reduce the amount of time water is shutoff to customers in order to perform repairs. The hydro excavation vehicle uses a vacuum and high-pressure water system to dig. Also, the District has held practice drills with the Board of Directors and staff on their role in responding to a major disaster to the water system.
The Westborough Water District staff and Board of Directors have conducted emergency preparedness drills to restore water service, review procedures, isolate water leaks and minimize water lost to the District. Over the years, the District has been purchasing additional piping, material, and equipment to better respond to emergencies when needed.
Are You Prepared?
By planning and practicing what to do if an earthquake occurs, you and your family can learn to react correctly and automatically when it happens. Most deaths and injuries from an earthquake are caused by collapsing building materials and heavy objects falling over. Review with your family and kids where, when, and how to reunite after an earthquake. Here are some suggestions in the event of an earthquake:
Safety: In the event of an earthquake, get under a sturdy table or desk, brace yourself in a doorway or corner, stay clear of windows, bookcases, china cabinets, mirrors, and other heavy objects. Have a first-aid kit for your home and each car. Have a flashlight with extra batteries, fire extinguisher, sunscreen, aspirin, bleach, tissue, radio, and cash. Mark where the water, gas, and electricity switches or valves are located so that they can be turned off quickly if needed.
Food: Store at least a three day supply of non-perishable food and water. Select ready to eat canned food and juice, fruits, vegetables, and crackers. Remember medications. Bringing water to a rolling boil for 1 minute will kill most organisms. Household bleach can be used to treat the water. If you use household bleach, add 1/8 teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water. For cloudy water, add ¼ teaspoon of bleach per gallon. Mix and let stand for about 30 minutes before using it. Minimum drinking water supply is 1 gallon per person per day.
Survival Kit: Ax, shovel, broom, screwdriver, pliers, saw, hammer, rope, tape, knife, cooking utensils, blankets, gas or charcoal grill and plastic tarp.
Emergency preparedness may be essential to your survival in the event of an earthquake. Be prepared! We are, are you?
In the event of a water related emergency, please feel free to call us directly at our office at 650-589-1435. If your call is placed after hours it will be forwarded to the District’s answering service. The dispatcher will forward your information to our 24 hour on-call personnel for prompt assistance.