Map Reveals 45 Natural Gas Leaks in Tewksbury

By FRANK O’LAUGHLIN (Patch Staff)

More than 40 potentially damaging natural gas leaks have been pinpointed across the town of Tewksbury.

The location of more than 20,000 gas leaks was recently revealed as part of a new state law, which requires utility companies to report the location and age of all know gas leaks.

According to a map based on a study done by the Home Efficiency Energy Team (HEET), Tewksbury has 45 gas leaks, the oldest of which dates back to 2001.

Click here to view Tewksbury’s map >>>

Audrey Schulman, president of the Home Energy Efficiency Team, told The Boston Globe the leaks are, in fact, a major health and environmental hazard.

“The leaks are potentially explosive, kill trees, harm human health, and release an extraordinarily destructive greenhouse gas,” Schulman said.

Utility companies are required to fix any potentially explosive leak, but are not required to repair those deemed nonexplosive, no matter the size of the leak, HEET reports.

Legislators have proposed a bill that would prohibit utility companies from passing the expense of the wasted gas onto consumers. A second bill would require the utilities to fix all gas leaks in roads already opened up for other repairs.