Medway houses and the age of the pipes
Medway was incorporated in 1713, and the town's hazard plan notes that 21 percent of its housing units were built before 1939. The town's own water department has been replacing mains on Main, Village, West, Highland, Adams and Winthrop Streets, with some of the old pipes dating to 1911.
Old pipe in the street is not the same as old pipe in your house, but it is a reminder that Medway has a lot of aging infrastructure. A pre-1939 house may have galvanized supply lines, cast iron drains and plaster walls that react to water differently from newer drywall.
Hopping Brook, Chicken Brook and the roads that close
The Medway hazard plan names the Charles River, Chicken Brook, Hopping Brook, Choate Pond, Green Stream and the Winthrop Street pond as the town's main water bodies. Two locally identified flood areas are Hopping Brook along Route 109 and Chicken Brook at Village Street, near a dam by the police department.
The plan also says Route 109 is an escape route that sometimes floods and Village Street can flood and close. If you are on the other side of a closed road, tell the dispatcher your route so the crew can plan a way in.
The same brooks reach Holliston. Hopping Brook appears on Holliston's flood map, and Chicken Brook does too, so a storm that fills one town's basements usually reaches the other.
When water is spreading in Medway
Call (508) 446-9244 the moment you see water, whether it is a failed supply line or a brook rising toward your door. The line is open 24/7.
If it is contaminated water, from a sewer backup or from outside, stay out of the area and wait for guidance. Franklin, just south of Medway, is another town we cover when the same storm hits there.
Medway at a glance
Water
The DPW Water and Sewer Division supplies groundwater from four well sites and two storage tanks that hold 2.8 million gallons.
Sewer
About 44 miles of gravity sewer carry wastewater to the Charles River Pollution Control District.
Permits and wells
The Building Department handles repair permits, and the Board of Health regulates private wells under rules adopted in October 2025.
Dispatch
The line stays open through weekends and holidays, which matters when a storm hits outside business hours.
If water is still spreading in Medway
Find the valve
Close the fixture valve or the main shutoff. Most Medway homes use town water, so the main is usually near the meter.
Protect against shock
If water has reached outlets or the panel, call your utility or 911 and stay out.
Raise what you can
Lift furniture and move paper, photos and electronics to higher ground.
Call the line
Dial (508) 446-9244 and say you are in Medway and which road you are on.
Services we provide in Medway
Medway homeowners most often need emergency water removal, flood damage restoration for brook and storm water, drying through water mitigation and rebuilding with water damage repair.
If you are closer to Holliston than to the Medway town center, say so when you call. Neighbors in Milford and Sherborn share the same line.
Frequently asked questions
Is emergency water removal available in Medway?
Yes. Call (508) 446-9244 at any hour and the dispatcher will take your details. Road closures from brook flooding are part of the conversation, so tell the dispatcher your route. A crew goes out the same day when one is free.
Do you cover every ZIP code in Medway?
Medway is served by the single ZIP code 02053, from the Medway Village area to the neighborhoods along Route 109 and Holliston Street. Call (508) 446-9244 with your address and we will confirm coverage.
Is Medway in the same county as Holliston?
No. Medway is in Norfolk County. Holliston is in Middlesex County. One dispatch line serves both.
My pipes are old. Should I worry?
Plan ahead. A leak in an old supply line often starts as a drip. If you see a stain or hear water running when nothing is on, shut off the main and call.
Where do I ask about private wells in Medway?
The Medway Board of Health regulates private wells under rules adopted in October 2025. Our crews handle water damage, not well permits.