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Gas Leaks Task Force
Gas pipes leak—a lot.
Gas leaks cause explosions, kill trees, degrade human health, and speed up climate change.National Grid, the gas utility company in Arlington, reported that there were 181 leaks in town at the start of 2023. Field observations suggest that the real number may be 2 or 3 times higher. There are leaks next to Arlington High School, at major intersections, near daycares and health facilities. On average, there are multiple leaks per mile of road. A map of open leaks can be found below.
National Grid is responsible for leak repairs under state law. The Town of Arlington is calling on National Grid to fix the leaks in its distribution system, which are harmful to health, climate, and public safety.
Download a copy of the Select Board Resolution | Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
When you smell a gas leak, call National Grid at 1-800-233-5325.
About Gas Leaks
The natural gas distribution infrastructure in Massachusetts is the second oldest and most leak-prone in the country.Gas leaks pose a risk to public health and safety. Leaked gas can accumulate in underground spaces, such as electric and sewer structures and manholes. When gas accumulates, it can ignite, causing fires and explosions, as happened in the Merrimack Valley. Exposure to methane can cause or exacerbate serious health problems.
Despite marketing to the contrary, natural gas is methane, a fossil fuel that is neither clean nor sustainable. Methane contributes to climate change. It is a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. If you think of carbon dioxide as being one blanket trapping heat in our atmosphere, think of methane gas as being 80 blankets trapping that heat.
Gas leaks kill trees. Leaked gas infiltrates the soil around tree roots, suffocating the tree. Arlington’s tree warden has sought and received payment from National Grid for street tree deaths caused by leaked gas.
Arlington residents pay for the leaked gas that National Grid emits. The leaked gas is calculated into the costs on your utility bill. Leaked gas costs ratepayers in the Boston region an estimated $90 million per year.
Under state law, utilities are required to repair leaks. The timeline for repairs is determined by the risk they pose to people and the environment. While leaks that could explode have to be fixed immediately, the state Department of Public Utilities allows some leaks to continue for up to 8 years.
Gas Leaks Data
Until 2014, there was little or no public information about the gas leaks in our communities. Massachusetts law now requires the gas companies to report leak locations to the Department of Public Utilities each quarter. The nonprofit HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Team) inventories and maps gas leaks for over 200 Massachusetts cities and towns. The map below shows open leaks in Arlington as of Q1 2023.NOTE: All leaks shown on these maps are under streets, but their location is given as the closest building address. If you smell gas in your house or on the street, you should always call National Grid at 1-800-233-5325.
About the Task Force
The Town Manager’s Gas Leaks Task Force was formed in 2016. The Task Force consists of the assistant town engineer, the tree warden, representatives from the Tree Committee, a representative from Sustainable Arlington, and community volunteers from Mothers Out Front.The group’s initial purpose was to work with the Town Tree Warden and the Town Tree Committee to evaluate the impact of gas leaks on our street trees. That effort resulted in purchasing new equipment for measuring gas leaks, documenting the impact of gas leaks on street trees, and seeking repayment for lost trees. This work is now integrated into the Tree Warden’s responsibilities.
The Task Force is now charged with implementing a priority measure under the Town’s Net Zero Action Plan, as below.
Engage in advocacy to encourage regulators and utilities to greatly accelerate the repair of gas leaks, and to phase-out the natural gas distribution supply network.
The Task Force works with municipal, regional, and nonprofit partners to accomplish this goal.