Most of you will probably remember the very successful response of both Lexington Boy Scout troops to the mobilization request for distribution of water when a major MWRA distribution pipe sprang a leak a few months ago.  As it turned out, contamination was not found in the water, but that did not relieve us of the need to obey the boil-water order which caused that mobilization.  Much was made of the fact that Lexington was one of the few towns which actually did anything which some took as a minus.  Personally, I took it as a huge plus.  And Scouts looked very, very good in the help they rendered.

Keep in mind that the leak did not cause the contamination.  Rather, the need to use alternative water conduits which had not been used in some time is what raised the possibility of contamination.

A few hours ago the MWRA found another leak in roughly the same area as the last one which they are investigating.  It might—and the emphasis is on MIGHT—lead to a similar boil-water order and that might lead to a need for a water distribution which, of course, the Scouts would be asked to help with.

So there are a couple of things.  First, you might want to set aside a couple of containers of potable water in your house just in case.  Be Prepared and all of that.  I just finished filling two five gallon containers for my own house.  Second, be alert to a further e-mail from me in the event we are asked to mobilize.

There will be information on the Town Web site at www.lexingtonma.gov as it becomes available.  The leak will probably turn out to be so minor that it can be easily fixed.  And there is no contamination or chance of contamination as I write this.  But just in case, be ready to do what Boy Scouts do in emergencies.

In the event of a mobilization, we will do it as we did it last time—by e-mail.  There are probably better ways and that is one of the things we had planned to discuss during the coming year.  Perhaps we need to move that discussion up a bit …  By the way—note that E-Prep merit badge talks about mobilizations.  Those who do not have that merit badge might want to take a look at the requirements.  You will find them at:

http://65.38.184.167/mb/mb006.asp

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 617-620-5011 or send me an e-mail at my personal address which will be in the header for this e-mail.

-Hank Manz