A water main broke on Route 100/ Main Street in Pittsfield early this morning, forcing a detour in the downtown area and a boil-water order from the town government.

The order caused headaches with residents and businesses in town.

Town highway crews were repairing the water main Thursday morning. The rupture $ an 8-inch crack in a large main $ caused other water leaks throughout town, officials said.

The boil-water order has issued because, with the pipe leak, the town's water tanks are drained quickly, said Town Manager Kathryn Ruth.

"When this happens, there is a possibility that the chemicals are not mixed as thoroughly in the water being pumped into the tank," Ruth said. "Due to this possibility, Pittsfield Water Works places a boil-water order for the entire system. We have been in contact with the State Drinking Water Program and they approved the boil-water order. This is a precautionary measure only."

Town officials were hopeful Thursday morning that the break would be fixed within a few hours.