Free Water Brings Rush To Belmont High

The call came to Belmont homes at 11:45 a.m., Sunday, May 2.

Due to the on going water emergency in eastern Massachusetts, the phone message said, the town would be giving away, free of charge, a 24-bottle case of bottled water to Belmont residents at the High School beginning at noon.

Soon afterwards, Belmont High School resembled the great Oklahoma Land Rush.

Cars lined up for nearly half-a-mile from the entrance of the High School, forcing a backup all the way on Concord Street as temperatures reached a muggy 85 degrees.

A steady stream of people came walking and biking from all directions as others ditched their cars along side roads and descended on the site.

"I called my neighbor, John, and told him, 'let's get water," said Abbey Koplovitz, who ambled over from Channing Road.

Once there, residents found about two dozen members of Belmont's Citizens Emergency Response Team surrounding six five-foot tall stacks of cases of Poland Spring and Nestle Pure Life.

Police and CERT members directed cars to each stack where two members would be waiting.

"Do you have ID?" asked CERT member Chris Messer, specifying the only requirement to obtain the water, before placing the cases into back seats and trunks.

"Keep moving, keep moving," said police as more and more walkers began lugging what in total was 12 liters, or three gallons, of water back to their cars and homes, carrying them in their hands, shoulders and even on top of their heads.

The water, a little more than 1,700 24-bottle cases on hand in Belmont, was part of a 2.5 million gallon emergency supply the state set aside to the 30 communities impacted by the water emergency that occurred when a major water main broke on Saturday afternoon, May 1.

But according to Leo J. Saidnawey, Belmont's Emergency Management Agency Director, Belmont was one of only 13 towns to accept an emergency shipment.

"And that's just tragic," said Saidnawey, as he directed his volunteer staff from near the flagpole at the High School's entry.

"We were told we'd get water if we wanted it and so (Saidnawey) did so," said Thomas Younger, Town Administrator who took his turn bringing cases of water to the CERT members.

"We were on top of this," he noted.

For both Saidnawey and Younger, the High School's centralized location and using the town's Connect CTY system – which calls each household with information and in case of emergencies – assisted in the smooth distribution of water.

"Getting a message (from the town) was really helpful because I'm really not a television or radio person," said Koplovitz. "I wouldn't have known otherwise," she said.

Only a few nonresidents tried to pick up water and a handful of residents asked for more than one case, most being parents of very young infants, said Saidnawey, who had to say no.

Saidnawey said the delivery of water to residents would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, without the CERT members.

"The best money the town ever spent is funding CERT," said Saidnawey.

"They came out when the call went out, in fact, some were calling me asking what they could do before anything was finalized," said Saidnawey. 

Messer, who lives on Selwyn Road, "jumped into action" when he received the call from the town in the morning.

"It's a great way to be supportive of the community and everyone is really thankful what we do," said Messer, who came with his son to hand out water in the sun and heat.

"I just hope this doesn't last that much longer," he said of the water emergency.

If the current boil order remains for more than a few more days, the town will likely schedule another water give away.

But it will not occur at the High School as it will be during the school day, said Younger. It will likely be at another site, either owned by the town or at a privately owned location. Once again, the town will use the phone system to connect people with the news.

As for Koplovitz, she had been boiling water when she heard of the give away and came with her neighbor, John Weagraff.

"It's a really nice thing what they are doing," she said. "This is neighbor's helping neighbors in the truest sense."

"It's nice to see the community rally behind something other than a power blackout or snowstorm," said Weagraff.