Water Tower Lights are Safely Functioning

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

One might think that the red, white and blue water tower on Cottage Hill is easy to spot in an airplane, but in reality the height and proximity to Logan Airport requires red warning lights.

But a power outage revealed the switch used to transfer power during outages was not functioning.

According to Fire Chief Paul Flanagan, back in January there were two National Grid power outages in town, causing the red warning lights to shut down. Typically there is a switch that would have turned on the lights when the power went out.

“A retired US Air pilot noticed the lights were out and asked us to investigate,” Flanagan said. “The town’s transfer switch which switches power from National Grid to emergency power had failed.”

Flanagan said the concern was not so much for large airplanes flying in and out of Logan, but the smaller planes that also use the airport.

John Vitagliano, a pilot and member of the town’s Airport Hazards Committee, contacted MassPort and the FAA. The switch has now been replaced and the lights on the tower are working properly.

Dick Bangs, of the Airport Hazards Committee, said the emergency power backup equipment will assure continual operation of the red warning lights on the tower. He added that the new equipment will also provide emergency power to Winthrop public safety equipment also installed at the site.