Let water tap drip when mercury drops below freezing

BREWSTER – When the mercury dips to a point where home and business water lines can freeze like it has been lately, residents and business owners are reminded to allow their water to run enough to avoid line and meter freezing.

That was the message Public Works Director Lee Webster brought to the regular meeting of the Brewster Chamber of Commerce last Wednesday, Feb. 6.

“Run your water in your businesses and you homes whether you’re on a well or city water.” said Public Works Director Lee Webster. “Run just a pencil-thin stream preferably farthest from where your water comes in which is usually the street side.”

Webster reminded everyone that the Brewster Municipal Code (BMC) requires water users to run enough water to keep the meter and water lines from freezing. Failure to comply with that puts the water user at risk for paying any repair bills caused by broken pipes, according to city code.

“If you run enough water to affect your bill and it puts you over the allowable limit, just come in and say so and we’ll make that go away so folks don’t have that added expense,” Webster said to counter concerns of those who are worried about a higher water bill.

Webster noted that the 2016-17 freeze left several city businesses without water for many days while city crews worked to make repairs and restore service.

“Run some water and make everybody’s life better,” Webster said.