Framingham Neighborhood Loses Water Twice in a Week Due to Frozen Pipes

City officials cite extreme cold temperatures as the driving factor behind the repeated water main breaks.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A neighborhood in Framingham, Massachusetts lost water for the second time in a week after a major water main broke on Thursday on one of the city's busiest streets, Salem End Road. Residents have been forced to shower at nearby gyms and buy bottled water as crews work to repair the damage, which is expected to take hours. The city's deputy water director said this is the 21st water main break they've had this year due to the freezing temperatures posing a challenge for the city's aging infrastructure.

Why it matters

Repeated water outages can be a major inconvenience for residents, disrupting daily routines and forcing them to seek alternative sources of water. The issue also highlights the need for Framingham to invest in upgrading its water infrastructure to withstand extreme weather conditions.

The details

The water main break occurred on Thursday on Salem End Road, one of Framingham's busiest streets. Crews arrived quickly to begin repairs, but the cleanup was expected to take hours. The street was covered in salt and mud to prevent it from freezing. Residents like Doug Lawrence have been showering at nearby gyms and buying bottled water, as this is the second time this week their neighborhood has lost water.

  • The first water main break happened on Monday.
  • The second water main break occurred on Thursday.

The players

Alex MacKenzie

Framingham's deputy water director, who cited the extreme cold temperatures as the driving factor behind the repeated water main breaks.

Doug Lawrence

A Framingham resident who has been forced to shower at nearby gyms and buy bottled water due to the water outages.

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What they’re saying

“We haven't had a year like this in a long time, but we haven't had the cold temperatures we're getting this year. That's the driving factor.”

— Alex MacKenzie, Framingham Deputy Water Director (cbsnews.com)

“Water's one of those basics in life when you don't have water. You notice right away. We've got a number of households that are out of water for the second time this week. So we're running around buying water.”

— Doug Lawrence, Framingham Resident (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

Crews are expected to continue working well into the night to complete the repairs and restore water service to the affected neighborhood.

The takeaway

The repeated water main breaks in Framingham highlight the need for the city to invest in upgrading its aging water infrastructure to better withstand extreme weather conditions. As climate change brings more frequent and severe cold snaps, proactive infrastructure improvements will be crucial to ensuring reliable water service for residents.