On the radio this morning. State Police are investigated two small planes that they WATCHED flying very low over Quabbin Reservoir yesterday afternoon. This is the water supply for Boston and a ton of suburbs. It is supposed to be restricted air space. They said they didn't see anything dropped from the planes, and apparently some boats tried to check out the reservoir as well.

Nothing about this in today's Sunday Globe. However, there was an article about other steps the water operator has been taking to cover over the intermediate reservoirs to protect from bird poop and stuff. The article also said that bio- and chemwarfare were the two most serious concerns, but that it would take 5 years for a drop of water to move from the surface of the reservoir into the intake pipe.

So, I don't have to fill up every scrap of container tonight but I do have to worry about the entire water supply of Metropolitan Boston being knocked out for longer than any doomer can imagine?

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2001

Answers

Unlike the other situation you wrote about, this one should not be ignored. I don't remember if you mentioned whether you had a back up water source. At the very least, do consider stocking some water and keeping it rotated. I have a water filter on my kitchen tap right now, with several in reserve. No one has said anything, but if they did, I'd tell them how much better my water tastes. I also have supplies in reserve, both for drinking and washing.

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2001

Meemur, I have some stored water, empty containers for a whole lot more, and a nearby stream that I could filter (after it goes past the town's sewer pump station). But I didn't anticipate anything like this for y2k, that the public water source might be knocked out pretty much indefinitely.

I've considered having a well installed, but I think it would be a very costly drill because of where I am located geologically and topographically. It made no sense whatsoever financially and getting the permit would have been a real hassle.

I'll have to reconsider, of course.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001