Town of Hanover, MA DPW

06/11/2026

INSIDE HANOVER DPW ǀ Water Leak Detection

The Hanover DPW manages a massive underground network consisting of 130 miles of water mains and approximately 5,400 individual water services. Ensuring this system remains reliable requires a proactive approach to finding and fixing hidden leaks before they turn into major water main breaks.

To keep the system as tight as possible, the town undergoes comprehensive leak detection surveys two times a year. By catching underground leaks early, we prevent massive resource loss and protect our public water supply. Approximately 25 to 35 Leaks located and repaired annually equaling 6 to 10 Million Gallons of water saved from loss per year.

Bi-Annual Town Sweeps: Every Spring and Fall, the DPW hires a specialized contractor to perform a full-town acoustic survey. This specialized equipment pinpoints the exact underground location of quiet, hidden leaks that haven't broken through the pavement.

In-House Maintenance: In addition to the town-wide contractor sweeps, our own DPW staff conduct targeted leak detection in-house whenever staffing levels allow to ensure new leaks are caught early.

Meeting State Standards: The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) sets a strict goal for public water systems to keep Unaccounted-for Water (UAW) below 10%.

Many water leaks never actually bubble up to the street they flow silently underground into the water table or drainage lines. Finding and fixing these 25 to 35 hidden leaks every year saves up to 10 million gallons of treated drinking water, which keeps production costs down and conserves our local water supply.

06/04/2026

INSIDE HANOVER DPW ǀ VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS
The Hanover DPW maintains a diverse fleet of vehicles and equipment that support essential daily operations throughout the town. From pickup trucks and dump trucks to loaders, backhoes mowers, and snow removal equipment, every piece of machinery requires regular maintenance to remain safe, reliable, and ready for service.
DPW shop staff perform routine inspections, preventive maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs year-round. Their work helps extend the service life of equipment, minimize downtime, and ensure vehicles are available when needed for roadway maintenance, snow and ice control, public grounds upkeep, and other critical municipal services.
The Vehicle Maintenance team also supports the Hanover Police Department by providing in-house maintenance and repair services for its fleet of police cruisers, which are in constant daily use.
While much of this work takes place behind the scenes, it is a vital part of keeping town operations running smoothly and ensuring residents continue to receive the dependable services they rely on each day.

05/29/2026

We want to recognize and thank the students from South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School for their time and energy at Forge Pond Park as they worked to improve the baseball fields. Your hard work and dedication are truly appreciated.

Thank you for helping make Hanover’s parks and fields a better place for everyone!

05/28/2026

INSIDE HANOVER DPW ǀ GRADUATION SEASON 🎓

With graduation fast approaching for the Hanover High School Class of 2026, our DPW Facilities Division staff has been hard at work preparing the high school campus for the big day.

The DPW takes great pride in maintaining our schools and grounds year-round, but graduation season is always a special time. We put in extra effort to ensure everything looks its best as seniors and their families celebrate this major milestone.

This annual operation is a major team effort. So far, the DPW Facilities Division has spread 30 yards each of mulch and loam, swept the school parking lots, mowed and w**d whacked the entire campus, and by Friday afternoon, crews will have set up 1,700 chairs for graduates and their guests. Following the ceremony, our staff will also assist with event breakdown and cleanup to return the campus to normal operations.

In addition to the Facilities Group’s regular responsibilities maintaining and cleaning Town buildings and schools, crews are also preparing other school properties for upcoming ceremonies and events over the next month, while continuing to maintain athletic fields through the end of their seasons.

Countless hours and incredible attention to detail go into making this day special. On behalf of the Hanover DPW, congratulations to the Hanover High School Class of 2026 — we are proud to play a small part in helping make your graduation day memorable! 🎓

05/24/2026

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, Hanover.

This Memorial Day weekend, we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. We hope everyone has a safe and meaningful Memorial Day as we take time to reflect and remember.

Just a reminder that the Hanover Transfer Station, Permit Sales at Town Hall, and the Ames Way Brush/Leaf Disposal Area will be closed on Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day.

05/21/2026

INSIDE HANOVER DPW | MEMORIAL DAY

Over the past several weeks, our DPW staff have been hard at work preparing the center of Town for Hanover’s annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony.

The annual parade stops at many memorial sites maintained by our staff. In addition to their regular weekly duties, crews dedicate extra time and efforts to get these areas along the parade route looking their best.

Significant effort goes into adding plantings, edging garden beds, mulching beds, and trimming. We would like to thank Kathy Murray for her volunteerism, efforts, and dedication to improving and maintaining the planting beds at many of these locations.

Along the parade route, Hanover’s Center Cemetery hosts several important stops. The cemetery itself spans approximately 29 acres and requires weekly mowing and trimming around nearly 6,700 documented gravestones and plaques.

The Veterans Memorial hosts the official ceremony at the conclusion of the parade. In the days leading up to the event, our DPW Facilities staff lends a hand by delivering and setting up chairs at the memorial and bandstand area for the ceremony.

In addition to the Cemetery and Veterans Memorial, the Town Hall, John Curtis Free Library, Stetson House, and Sylvester School Building all receive spring cleanups and final mowing in preparation for Memorial Day.

The Hanover DPW is proud to support this important tradition and help ensure these spaces are ready as our community gathers to honor and remember those who served.

05/20/2026

In accordance with Hanover's Water Management Act Permit (9P3-4-21-122.0l) and to ensure adequate and sustainable reserves for drinking and firefighting purposes throughout the summer, effective immediately, under further notice, residents and businesses and required to limit outside watering of lawns, plantings, and gardens to odd-numbered home on odd-numbered days, and even-numbered homes on even-numbered days between 6:00 am to 9:00 am and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm with handheld hoses only. The use of any sprinklers is prohibited.

Any person violating the water restrictions shall be liable to the Town in the amount of $50.00 for the first violation and $100.00 for each subsequent violation in accordance with the Hanover Town By-Law 6-24.

Private Wells must be registered at the DPW office, 781-826-3189, and a "Private Well" sign shall be posted on the property, visible from the street.

Per order of the Town Manager
May 20, 2026

05/18/2026

The Town of Hanover Department of Public Works will be continuing our Spring Hydrant Flushing Program this evening. Flushing will take place on Route 13.

For updates and more information, visit:

The Hanover Water Department's Spring Water Main Flushing Program is scheduled to begin on the week of April 6th, 2026Fl

05/14/2026

INSIDE HANOVER DPW | FIRE HYDRANT FLUSHING

The Hanover DPW maintains approximately 1,200 fire hydrants throughout town. Twice each year—during the spring and fall—our crews conduct a system-wide hydrant flushing program.

Hydrant flushing is one of the most important preventive maintenance tasks we perform to keep Hanover’s water system safe, reliable, and ready when it matters most.

This work serves several important purposes:
• Emergency Readiness: Hydrants are inspected and exercised to ensure they are operational and ready for use by the Fire Department during an emergency.
• Infrastructure Maintenance: Crews operate underground water valves to help prevent them from becoming stuck or inoperable over time—an important step in maintaining the reliability of our water system.
• Water Quality: Flushing helps move older water through the system and removes naturally occurring sediment that can settle inside water mains, helping maintain water clarity and quality.

A Quick Hydrant Fact: In Hanover, hydrants painted orange are generally Town-owned and maintained by the DPW, while yellow hydrants are typically privately owned and maintained.

What Residents Might Notice During Our Flushing Operations:
• During flushing periods, some residents may temporarily experience cloudy or tea-colored water. This is normal, temporary, and occurs when harmless sediment becomes stirred up in the pipes by our flushing operations.
• If you notice discoloration, simply run cold water (preferably from a basement sink, tub, or outdoor spigot) for a few minutes until it clears.
• For more information on our current ongoing flushing program, please visit: https://www.hanover-ma.gov/public-works/news/spring-2026-water-main-flushing-program

This is just one of the many behind-the-scenes efforts our team performs to maintain Hanover’s critical infrastructure every day.

05/13/2026

The Town of Hanover Department of Public Works will be continuing our Spring Hydrant Flushing Program this evening. Flushing will take place on Route 12.

For updates and more information, visit:

The Hanover Water Department's Spring Water Main Flushing Program is scheduled to begin on the week of April 6th, 2026Fl