Is it true Bear Hole is no longer used as a water source?
NO it is not true. Bear Hole Reservoir is still an active water supply. If you walk down to the Bear Hole Pumping Station and there is no water in the filter beds, the system is offline or a particular filter bed is not being used. If there is water coming from filter tank aerators, the system is active. If a filter tank is full of water, but no water coming from aerators, that particular tank is on stand-by. State regulations mandate that Bear Hole cannot supply water 24hrs/day. As of Fall 2009 and still on September 1, 2010 the system is offline due to pending routine maintenance such as replacing gaskets and repairing aerators. On September 22nd it was confirmed with the DPW that Bear Hole is back online as a drinking water supply after being offline for 1 year. The rate the town was paying to buy water from the City of Springfield increased and it has now been determined to be financially responsible to obtain water from Bear Hole. The DPW labels Bear Hole reservoir as inefficient
