Know your water supply before you troubleshoot
Ashland's main supply comes from the Howe Street groundwater wells beside the Hopkinton Reservoir. In October 2018 the state Water Resources Commission approved Ashland's request to join the MWRA system and buy up to 1.6 million gallons a day to supplement those wells.
That matters in a leak. Water from the street is the town's responsibility up to your meter, and everything after the meter is yours. Find your main shutoff and the meter now, before an emergency, so you can tell a street problem from a pipe inside your wall.
When water is spreading in Ashland
Call the dispatch line the moment water is moving where it should not be. It is answered around the clock, every day, and the crew drives in from Framingham along Route 9.
Close the main valve if you can reach it safely. Keep power off to anything touched by water, but only if the panel is dry. Pull rugs and small furniture clear of the puddle and keep children and pets out of the room. If a smell of gas or a sparking outlet is involved, call 911 first.
Before we arrive: if water is still spreading
A few quiet minutes of preparation can save flooring and furniture.
Find the shutoff
Look near the meter or where the pipe enters the house. Turn it fully closed and open one faucet at the lowest level to drain the line.
Protect the electrics
Unplug what you can reach from dry ground. Leave wet outlets and the panel to the utility and the electrician.
Raise and remove
Lift boxes, books and electronics. Roll back area rugs and pull pillows and bedding out of wet rooms.
Document, then call
Take wide and close photos of the water and the source. Then call the line and tell the dispatcher what you see.
Match the problem to the right phase of work
Water jobs move through phases. This table helps you describe where you are on the call.
| What you see | Phase | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Standing water on the floor now | Extraction | Emergency water removal |
| Wet walls or ceiling after a pipe failure | Drying | Water mitigation |
| Dry structure with stained or damaged finishes | Rebuild | Water damage repair |
| A musty smell or visible growth after water | Containment and removal | Mold remediation |
The Sudbury River dams and low ground in town
The Myrtle Street Dam sits on the Sudbury River inside Ashland, and the town also has an Ashland Reservoir area along the river. Water that moves through these places is part of the landscape, which means homes on low ground can see high groundwater after heavy rain.
If your house is near the river or reservoir, check your address on the FEMA flood map and read your policy. Standard homeowners coverage does not include flood, so a wet basement after a storm may need a separate flood policy to be covered.
Route 9 and the reach into Hopkinton
Ashland sits along Route 9 southwest of Framingham, and the same road continues toward Hopkinton. Hopkinton, ZIP 01748, is reached from the same dispatch line, so a neighbor over the town line can call the same number.
If you are on a private well rather than town water, mention it on the call. A well pump and pressure tank in a flooded basement is a separate electrical and plumbing issue that the crew will want to know about before entering.
Ashland service area map
The map below is centered on Ashland, ZIP 01721.
Nearby towns and related work
Crews also work in Southborough to the west and Natick to the east. For homes that need rebuilding after a flood, see flood damage restoration for how contaminated water is treated differently.
Water spreading in Ashland?
Call the 24/7 line and a dispatcher will arrange a crew for Ashland.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Our line runs 24/7, so emergency water removal is available in Ashland on nights, weekends and holidays. Same-day response is the goal when crews are available, and you will hear honestly if it will take longer.
Ashland has one ZIP code, 01721, and we cover all of it, from the Route 9 side of town to the streets near the Sudbury River and the reservoirs.
Yes. Town water up to the meter is the town's to fix. The pipe after the meter is yours, so shut off at your own valve first and call a plumber for the repair. We handle the drying and cleanup either way.
It can. Tell the dispatcher so the crew checks for a pump and tank before entering a wet basement, and treat any wet electrical equipment as a hazard.
If water soaked walls, subfloor or insulation, or has sat more than a day, professional drying prevents hidden damage. A single small spill on a hard floor you wiped up within an hour usually does not.
Water still spreading? Call (508) 446-9244 and a dispatcher answers around the clock.