Re: [LincolnTalk] water emergency

[Sara Mattes]

Thank you for this complete report. It should underscore why we have confidence in our professional staff! Sent from my iPad On Aug 15, 2024, at 9:27 AM, LaFalam, Darin <lafal...@lincolntown.org> wrote:  Bijoy,   The date was a mistake I take full responsibility for.   I personally returned all messages we received about the water interruption Wednesday afternoon. There were a few callers that did not leave messages.  I did not return those calls.   Appreciatively,   Darin   From: Bijoy Misra <misra.bi...@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2024 7:41 AM To: LaFalam, Darin <lafal...@lincolntown.org> Cc: Lincoln Talk <lincoln@lincolntalk.org> Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] water emergency   Dear Mr Darin and friends, From the notice, we assumed that the 15th was the valid date. Then a truck showed up in front of the fire hydrant yesterday. Then we knew that possibly the date was wrong.  The date mistake was possibly not known to the Department or they did not care.  We had to take it like a forced emergency. Then the delay.  There was no messaging, no courtesy. I called the Water office at 3:30, the message was "We are  closed.  Call non-emergency Police if there is a water emergency."    I called the 259 line.  The officer was helpful and said that the estimated time was 6 PM, but was not sure.  Then I wrote to Lincoln Talk to alert people.   The water  came at about 5:30 PM. I have been in town for twenty years.  This is the first time I felt a disruption of service was totally mismanaged. Water is important in our daily life! Regards, Bijoy Misra 180 Bedford Road           On Thu, Aug 15, 2024 at 7:11 AM LaFalam, Darin <lafal...@lincolntown.org> wrote: Northern Bedford Road and Mill Street water customers,   I apologize for the wrong date on the Interruption of Water Service Notification and the water main work taking longer than expected yesterday (Wednesday the 14th).   The Water Department notified everyone we knew would be affected on Friday by placing blue notification flyers in their mailboxes on Friday the 9th. We also posted the Interruption of Water Service notification on Lincoln Talk, the Lincoln Squirrel, and the Lincoln Water Department Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/747772673496079). We expected the work to be complete by 2:00pm and have a recent history of having water back on before our estimated time. Occasionally, when working on underground infrastructure, unforeseen circumstances arise. We were forced to close valves further from the job site than expected to isolate the work area, creating an interruption in water service on Mill Street as well. Our crew and contractor worked diligently, but we could not get the water turned on until 5:00 – 6:00pm.   When we knew the project was running past the estimated 2:00pm time, we notified the police and fire departments, and manned the phones to return phone calls. We also sent an update out on Blackboard Connect, the reverse 911 service the Town of Lincoln uses. We apologize for any inconvenience, but this is the nature of water main repair work. We typically schedule repairs during the day, as many customers are away from home during work hours.   We have complaints of air in the water lines on Bedford Road outside of the affected service area. We will get out there immediately to bleed air from hydrants.   We appreciate your patience and understanding,   Darin LaFalam Water Superintendent       From: Bijoy Misra <misra.bi...@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 3:56 PM To: Lincoln Talk <lincoln@lincolntalk.org> Subject: [LincolnTalk] water emergency   Water service mismanagement A faulty notice came in mail : "Water repairs on Bedford Road pon Wednesday August 15, 7 AM to 2 PM." Water is off since the morning.  Water office is closed.  Police says it could be 6 PM as an estimate. I don't understand why they can't phase it so as not to cause inconvenience. No shower, no cooking, 3:30 PM. Bijoy Misra 180 Bedford Road -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.

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