Water damage restoration in Holliston, MA has a feature most nearby towns do not: no municipal sewer. Town water comes from wells and wastewater goes to septic systems, so a basement problem here can involve a tank, a leach field or a sump pump as much as a pipe. The 24/7 dispatch line is (508) 446-9244.
Holliston lies southeast of Hopkinton, about six miles away in a straight line by our estimate. We do not promise arrival times, but same-day response is offered when crews are available.
Through the year: what water does to Holliston homes
Spring is when snowmelt and rain raise brooks and ground water, and a sump pump that works in April can fail in the first hard storm. Summer thunderstorms bring fast runoff to lots that slope toward the house. Fall leaf buildup clogs gutters, and winter freezes put pipes at risk in unheated corners.
Holliston is mostly single-family homes, about 84 percent by the town's housing plan, and the Census puts owner-occupancy at roughly 87 percent. About a third of owner-occupied homes were built in 1959 or earlier. Older foundations and a high water table are a combination worth planning for, which is why basement flooding cleanup is one of the most common calls from this part of town.
If water is still spreading in Holliston
Stop what you can stop
If a supply line, water heater or sump discharge line is the cause, close its valve or unplug the pump. Rising ground water has no valve, so concentrate on protecting belongings.
Keep power off wet areas
Turn off power to wet circuits only if you can do it from dry footing. If you cannot reach the panel safely, call the utility or 911 first, then us.
Document before you move
Take photos of the water line and the damage before lifting anything. Then raise furniture and boxes off the floor.
Do not pump a septic overflow yourself
If septic water is in the house, stay out and keep pets and children away. Do not flush chlorinated water into a septic tank during cleanup.
Call the dispatch line
Call (508) 446-9244 any hour, and tell us what is wet and where the water came from.
Ponds, brooks and culverts with a record
Holliston's 2024 hazard mitigation plan describes several problem spots. The Houghton Pond dam on Jar Brook is town-owned and rated high hazard, and a town engineering report says the Route 16 culvert downstream floods the road and parking lot in storms as small as a five-year event. A heavy storm in 2005 backed water up behind the dam and flooded a residential area.
The plan also says Factory Pond dam backups have flooded the Miller and Placentino school complex, and that Woodland Street overtops in a five-year storm. Lake Winthrop covers 137 acres, according to the state. If your yard drains toward any of these, check the FEMA flood map and ask the town about drainage before you finish a basement.
Holliston participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. The hazard plan counts 54 policies and two repetitive-loss properties in the Hopping Brook watershed, which tells you that flood insurance here is not hypothetical. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood damage, so check your policy or ask your insurer.
Wells, iron and septic: practical details
The town's five wells, on Washington, Central and Brook Streets, Mohawk Path and Maple Street, draw naturally occurring iron and manganese that the water department treats. The town says that water can stain laundry and fixtures brown. Rust-colored staining after a leak is therefore not automatically a sign of contamination, but it is worth a look.
A November 2024 engineering report proposes sewering 71 downtown properties, and until that happens most homes depend on septic. After a flood, a saturated leach field cannot absorb more water, so a cleanup crew and a septic professional may both be needed. If you use a private well, the state advises treating it as contaminated if the well cap has been underwater and testing before drinking.
Historic districts and older construction
The National Register lists the Thomas Hollis Historic District along Washington Street and the East Holliston Historic District, where Georgian and Federal houses are among the older buildings. Homes of that age often have stone foundations that seep, wood framing that tolerates drying well, and plaster that does not.
If you own one, ask a restoration company to describe the drying plan in plain words before equipment goes in. Our water mitigation page explains what the equipment does and why moisture readings drive the schedule.
Permits and offices in Holliston
Building permits are handled at the Building Department, 703 Washington Street, and the town requires a sign-off from the Health Agent for many projects. The Conservation Commission reviews work within 100 feet of a wetland or 200 feet of a perennial stream under the wetlands bylaw. Rules vary by lot, so ask before a rebuild.
ZIP code and nearby places we serve
Holliston is one ZIP, 01746, and we cover all of it, from Washington Street to the Lake Winthrop and Houghton Pond areas. If your property is near the Milford line, see the Milford service area, and the Ashland page covers the towns to the north.
Holliston service area map
Not sure how big your Holliston job is?
The scope depends on the water category, the area, the materials and the drying days. Call (508) 446-9244, and the scope and price are explained before work starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The line is open 24/7. Same-day response is offered when crews are available, and we do not promise an arrival time.
Holliston has one ZIP, 01746. We cover all of it, from Washington Street to the lots around Lake Winthrop and Houghton Pond and the brook-side streets near Hopping Brook and Beaver Brook.
It can. A flooded septic system cannot take more water, so cleanup sometimes involves a septic professional too. Water that touched septic waste is treated as contaminated.
The state's guidance says to assume a well is contaminated if its cap has been underwater. Use bottled water or boil it, and test through a certified lab. Ask your Board of Health for the next steps.
The damage is real, but coverage is a different question. Standard policies often exclude sump pump failure unless you added an endorsement, so read your policy or ask your insurer.