When snowmelt and storms hit Hopkinton
Hopkinton sits at the top of a watershed. Whitehall Reservoir, a 620-acre great pond in Whitehall State Park, and Echo Lake are described in the town's plan as headwaters of the Charles River. Water starts here and flows toward Holliston and beyond.
That makes seasons matter. Spring snowmelt, fall storms and winter thaws push water through the same brooks, culverts and ponds. If you see water coming into the house, call (508) 446-9244 day or night and the dispatcher will talk you through the first steps.
Floods the town has recorded
The Hopkinton Hazard Mitigation Plan, adopted in January 2017, lists significant floods affecting the town in 1968, 1979, 1987, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007 and twice in 2010, in March and December. It counts nine dams and no repetitive-loss structures.
Flood-prone sites named in the plan include a culvert at 32 Granite Street, Alprilla Farm Road, and the Cranberry Lane and North Hill area, where 30 to 40 homes are affected and beaver activity is part of the cause.
If your street is near a culvert, a pond outlet or a beaver-dammed brook, keep a flashlight, a battery backup for your sump pump and your insurer's number where you can find them in the dark.
Hopkinton Center, Woodville and the older housing
Hopkinton Center became a historic district in 1979, and Woodville, a village on the shore of Lake Whitehall, has a historic district of its own. Woodville grew around the Hopkinton Cotton Manufacturing Company, formed in 1811, and brick houses on Wood Street were built by the Rice family. Woodville shares ZIP 01748 with the rest of town.
Older houses here often have stone foundations, wood floors over crawl spaces and plaster walls. Those materials can sometimes be dried instead of replaced, but only if work begins early. We use moisture readings to decide which trim and floors are worth saving.
Newer houses elsewhere in town have different needs. Finished basements, engineered floors and sump systems are the usual story, and the water often comes from storm runoff or a failed discharge line.
Hopkinton at a glance
Water
The DPW Water and Sewer Division runs the public water system, supplied by groundwater wells and purchased water from Ashland's Howe Street plant.
Sewer
Properties inside the sewer area connect to the town system. Others rely on septic, so ask the Board of Health if your property uses it.
Permits
Inspectional Services at Town Hall, 18 Main Street, handles building permits for repairs.
Dispatch
Calls to the emergency line are taken at all hours, so a midnight burst pipe gets the same attention as a Monday morning one.
If water is still spreading in Hopkinton
Close the valve
Shut the fixture valve or the main. Homes on town water have a shutoff near the meter.
Stay clear of electric
If water has reached the panel or outlets, call your utility or 911 before you do anything else.
Lift and clear
Move furniture, rugs and anything stored on the floor above the water.
Call the line
Dial (508) 446-9244 and say that you are in Hopkinton or Woodville.
Services we provide in Hopkinton
Hopkinton calls usually need flood damage restoration after storms, water mitigation to dry the structure and water damage cleanup for materials that cannot stay. We also help with mold remediation when damp finished basements are involved.
Neighbors in Ashland and Milford call the same line, so a storm that hits all three is handled with one dispatcher.
Frequently asked questions
Is emergency water removal available in Hopkinton?
Yes. Our dispatch number (508) 446-9244 answers every hour of the week. That includes Woodville, Hopkinton Center and the neighborhoods around Lake Maspenock. When a team is free, it heads out the same day.
Do you cover every ZIP code in Hopkinton?
Hopkinton uses ZIP 01748 throughout, which includes Hopkinton Center, the village of Woodville and the areas around Whitehall Reservoir and Lake Maspenock. Dial (508) 446-9244 with your address for a coverage answer.
Do you serve Woodville?
Yes. Woodville is a village inside Hopkinton and shares ZIP 01748. Call and give your street.
What if my basement floods when the pond is high?
Call when water enters. We extract, remove materials the water category does not allow us to keep and dry the structure. Preventing a repeat is a drainage and grading question for a contractor.
Where do I ask about septic or wells?
The Hopkinton Board of Health handles septic and private well questions. We tell you when a problem looks like a septic issue instead of a plumbing leak.
Flooding in Hopkinton?
Call the 24/7 line from Hopkinton Center, Woodville or anywhere nearby.
☎ Call (508) 446-9244