Fix the Gas Leaks in Weston

Thank you for this petition. Engaging in this work is morally responsible and empowering

7 years ago Featured

Its been over 5 years since we've been smelling gas at our mailboxes and where my neighbors small children wait for the bus! This is unacceptable, please fix immediately! Corner of Woodland Road and Conant Rd.

This has been a problem for too long.

Late to sign here, but more names is better. For the record.

Keep working on this important issue. Looking forward to positive results!

Thank you for organizing this pressing matter!!

Thank you for working on this issue.

Please include my name on the list: 262 Country Drive

Agree with the comment that the gas leak around Rivers is alarming. 140 leaks around a small town is unacceptable.

Keep up the good work

7 years ago Featured

The smell of gas around River’s school is unbearable not to mention that it is probably isn’t safe

Thanks for taking on this important issue.

Thanks for all your efforts making Weston a safer home town.

Clarification: Weston Gasleaks ([email protected]) is part of the Sustainable Weston Action Group (SWAG). The location identifier comes up as Waltham, but it is a Weston/SWAG account. A SWAG member hosts and responds to that email and to this forum.

Clarification: Weston Gasleaks ([email protected]) is part of the Sustainable Weston Action Group (SWAG). The location identifier comes up as "Waltham" but it is a Weston/SWAG account. A SWAG member hosts and responds to that email and to this forum.

Call National Grid's leak line and let them know! 800-233-5325 The more people that call, the better.

If you smell gas in your neighborhood, call the National Grid leak line at 800-233-5325. If you smell gas INSIDE YOUR HOME, call 911 immediately.

Great questions-- thanks for asking them! Q. HOW QUICKLY ARE NEW LEAKS APPEARING? A. The rate of identified leaks has increased over recent years. 88 of those 140+ leaks were identified since 2014. Q. ARE NEW LEAKS GOING TO APPEAR EVEN WHEN THE EXISTING ONE ARE FIXED? A. The short answer here is yes. In Weston, we have some First Generation gas pipeline infrastructure. This means that some of our pipes were installed in the 1920's and are made out of Cast Iron and Bare Steel. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation which oversees the Natural Gas Pipelines, Cast Iron and Bare Steel pipes "are among those pipelines that pose the highest risk". This is due to "the degrading nature of iron alloys, the age of the pipelines, and pipe joints design have greatly increased the risk involved with continued use of such pipelines." (Quote source: https://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline_replacement/) So what this means is that until the failing First Generation pipelines are replaced with the current standard of plastic or steel, the pipes running under Weston's ground will continue to leak and will continue to pose a higher safety threat to our community. BONUS QUESTION: Q. WHAT CAUSES CAST IRON PIPES TO LEAK? A. According to the US Department of Transportation: "The biggest threat to cast or wrought iron pipe is earth movement. If these pipelines are disturbed by digging, seasonal frost heave, or changes in ground water levels, leakage may occur. Another serious threat called graphitization is a natural process in which iron degrades to softer elements, making iron pipelines more susceptible to cracking. The extent of graphitization depends on many factors, but gas may leak from the joints or through cracks in the pipe if graphitization has occurred. When leaks occur on low-pressure systems with cast or wrought iron distribution lines, the volume of gas escaping through the failure point is much less than what might e

7 years ago Featured

Thank you, SWAG, for organizing this. A question: does anyone know how quickly new leaks appear? In other words, if all 140 leaks were fixed, would we continuously need to address new locations with new leaks? Or is the solution new piping everywhere? Just wondering....

It's meaningful when we can we can all get together around a common concern, except... I also wish this concern could be resolved quickly for the good of all. 140+ gas leaks! That number really surprised me.