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2002
Drinking Water Quality Test Results
for our Chicopee Valley Aqueduct System Customers
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Q:
How does MWRA protect my water?
A:
MDC rangers, in partnership with MWRA, patrol the Quabbin and
Wachusett Reservoirs and incoming streams within the watershed every
day. The water is tested daily for many parameters, and many more
are performed weekly and monthly.
Operators
monitor the water that comes to your community 24 hours a day, 365
days a year.
Also,
in response to any heightened alerts from the office of homeland
security, MWRA has taken extra security steps, including locking
down operational facilities, adding facility checks, increasing
water quality monitoring and many other security measures.
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Q:
How would I know about a problem with the water supply?
A:
MWRA
and your local water department keep close watch on the water supply.
The law requires that you be told if there is a problem with your
water. You would get the news by radio, television and newspapers,
from MWRA, your local health departments and the state Departments
of Public Health (DPH) and Environmental Protection (DEP).
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Q:
What can I do to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water?
A:
Be
careful of places you may find lead in or near your home. Paint,
soil, dust and some pottery may contain lead.
Run the tap until the water feels cold. Then fill a pitcher with
water and place in the refrigerator for future use.
Never
use hot water from the faucet for drinking or cooking especially
when making baby formula or other food for infants.
As
your local water department if there are lead service pipes leading
to your home.
Test
your tap water. Contact MWRA for more tops and a lit of certified
labs.
Call
the Department of Public Health at (617) 284-8400 if you have questions.
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Q:
My water is discolored or cloudy once in a while. Can I drink it?
A:
Water
is piped under pressure throughout the system. Sometimes air can
become trapped in the water, causing cloudiness. This is only temporary
and the water clears up in a short time.
Rust
from old iron pipes can cause red, brown or yellow water. Changes
in water speed or direction in your local pipes can cause rust to
be carried along.
This
can happen when the valves are being repaired, flushed or tested,
or fire hydrants are in use. Wait until the water is clear before
doing laundry to avoid staining clothes. You can safely drink, cook
with or bathe in this water.
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Q:
How does MWRA protect my water?
A:
MDC rangers, in partnership with MWRA, patrol the Quabbin and
Wachusett Reservoirs and incoming streams within the watershed
every day. The water is tested daily for many parameters and many
more tests are performed weekly and monthly. Operators monitor
the water that comes into your home 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year.
Also,
in response to any heightened alerts from the Department of Homeland
Security, MWRA has taken extra security steps, including locking
down operational facilities, adding facility checks, increasing
water quality monitoring and many other security measures.
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Q:
Is
my water considered hard or soft?
A: Your tap water is considered soft, and is good for laundry and
shampooing. Water is measured by hardness, which is
the amount of dissolved minerals in your water. MWRA water has a
hardness of about 12 mg/l (or less than 1 grain/gallon by older
measures). For comparison, hard water would have greater than 75
mg/l hardness. If you have questions on the character of your water,
feel free to contact us.
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Q:
My
water has a strange tast or odor sometimes. Can I drink
it?
A: Sometimes algae can cause a fishy or grassy
odor.
You can drink, cook with, or bathe in this water. Algae are normal,
harmless plants that appear in the reservoirs at certain times of
the year. MWRA treats the reservoirs to control algae. If you have
a concern, call MWRA or your local water department.
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Facts
about Sodium |
Sodium
in water contributes only a small fraction of a person's overall
sodium intake (less than 10%). MWRA tests for sodium monthly and
the highest level found was 5.4 mg/l (about 1.4 mg per glass).
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A
letter from our Executive Director
June
1, 2003
Massachusetts
Water Resources Authority
Charlestown Navy Yard 100 First Avenue Boston, MA
02129
Dear
Customer,
I am pleased to send you this annual report on your drinking water
quality. This report is prepared with the help of your local water
and health department and it describes how we treat and deliver
the tap water that reaches your home. It also includes the test
results for 2002 - and the news is good. For example, in 2002, MWRA
met the federal Lead and Copper Rule for the first time.
I also want you to know that we are nearing completion of several
facilities designed to modernize our water system. The new water
tunnel, treatment plant and storage projects to improve system reliability
and security are the biggest advances in the regional water supply
in many decades. We have made great progress on these programs over
the last year and we will begin a two-year startup of the new water
system this fall. We will be working closely with local water departments
to ensure continuous operations as these new facilities are brought
on-line.
I hope you will take a few moments to read this important report.
MWRA has great confidence in the water we deliver to over 2 million
customers and we hope that this report will give you the same confidence.
Please contact us if you have any questions or comments about your
water quality, or any of MWRAs programs.
Sincerely,
Frederick A. Laskey
Executive Director
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Where
does your water come from?
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(click
map for a larger view)
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MWRA supplies
wholesale water to three Chicopee Valley communities: Chicopee, South
Hadley Fire District #1, and Wilbraham. MWRA also serves 40 cities and
towns of greater Boston and MetroWest. Your water comes from Quabbin
Reservoir. Water from the Ware River can add to the supply at times.
The reservoir provides about 10 million gallons of high quality water
each day to Chicopee, Wilbraham, and South Hadley Fire District #1.
Rain and snow falling on the watersheds
- protected land around the reservoirs - turn into streams that flow
to the reservoirs. Water comes in contact with soil, rock, plants, and
other material as it follows natures path to the reservoirs. While
this process helps clean the water, it can also dissolve and carry very
small amounts of material into the reservoir. Minerals from soil and
rock, including low levels of natural radioactive materials, do not
usually cause problems in the water. But water can also transport contaminants
from human and animal activity. These can include bacteria, viruses,
pesticides, and fertilizers - some of which can cause illness. The test
results in this report show that these are not a problem in Quabbin
Reservoirs watershed.
Quabbin watershed is protected naturally as over 90% of the watersheds
are covered in forest and wetlands. About 83% of the total watershed
land cannot be developed. The natural undeveloped watershed helps to
keep MWRA water clean and clear. Also to ensure safety, the streams
and the reservoir are tested often by the MWRA, and the watershed patrolled
daily by the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC).
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Major Improvements Underway
Water must travel through the 15-mile Chicopee Valley Aqueduct and through
some of the hundreds of miles of local distribution pipes under your streets
before it reaches your tap. To continue providing high quality water,
each part of the water system needs routine maintenance and, when necessary,
major improvements or new facilities.
MWRANash Hill Storage Tanks The closed storage tank
was completed in June 1999 to replace the Nash Hill open reservoir. This
tank helps to lessen the risk that contamination will get into your tap
water.
MWRAWare Disinfection Facility The treatment facilities
were completed in the summer of 2001. The plant provides a more consistent
primary disinfection for your water.
Chicopee Over 1,000 feet of 16-inch, 5000 feet of 12-inch,
and 1,300 feet of 8-inch ductile iron water mains were installed in 2002
to provide additional fire protection and improve overall water quality.
Additionally, in cooperation with MWRA, the Water Department is involved
with designing system redundancy for the Chicopee Valley Aqueduct to ensure
an uninterrupted supply of water.
Wilbraham During 2002, the Water Department repaired 6 water
main breaks and installed 22 new water services. Total water usage was
429, 877, 000 gallons, approximately 2.1% above the 9-year average consumption.
We started construction on Pidgeon Drive, a street that previously had
only private wells and no fire hydrants, a project that will provide Town
water and fire protection to 13 homes. This work is anticipated to take
two years and includes laying 1200 feet of 8" ductile iron water
main, installing 3 fire hydrants and 13 water service laterals.
South Hadley Fire District No. 1 In the past year, 38 new
services have been connected to the distribution system. As part of the
Districts ongoing commitment to improving the distribution system,
two water mains have been replaced. On Carew Street, a 300 feet section
of old 6"cast iron water main between Main Street and North Main
Street was replaced with a new 8" ductile iron water main. Approximately
600 feet of 6" A.C. main on Park Avenue off Vivianni Street was replaced
with 8" ductile iron water main. Three fire hydrants were replaced
as well. The new mains will improve water quality, fire flows, and provide
years of reliable service in both areas. The Water Department personnel
installed both projects resulting in a considerable cost savings to the
District. Water mains in the future will continue to be replaced by the
Departments staff when conditions and time are favorable. To assist
in this effort, the Department is upgrading and purchasing equipment to
provide reliability for future projects.
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Water
Test Results
Before
treatment - Your
water is tested each step of the way from the reservoir to the
tap. We test the water as it leaves the reservoir to see how well our
watershed protection is working. Test results show few contaminants are
found in the reservoir water. Those few that are found are present in
very small amounts, well below EPAs standards. Turbidity (or cloudiness
of water) is one measure of overall water quality. Typical levels are
0.3 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). Quabbins turbidity level
was always below EPAs standard of 5.0 NTU. It was below the Massachusetts
standard of 1.0 NTU every day except for one, when the value reached 1.96
NTU, but this did not interfere with effective disinfection. Therfore,
this was not a violation of the standard.
MWRA also tested Quabbin Reservoir water for pathogens (often called germs),
such as fecal coliform, bacteria, and the parasites Cryptosporidium and
Giardia. They can enter the water from animal or human waste. All test
results were well within state and federal standards. No Cryptosporidium
or Giardia was found in samples taken every other week.
After treatment - EPA and State regulations also require many water
quality tests after treatment to check the water you are drinking. MWRA
follows and even goes beyond these tests. We conduct thousands
of tests per year. This allows us to better monitor your water.
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Quabbin
Reservoir Water Test Results After Treatment
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Compound
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Units
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(MCL)
- Highest Level Allowed
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(We
Found)
Detected Level
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Range
of Detections |
(MCLG)
Ideal Goal
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Is
the level in violation?
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How
It Gets in the Water
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Barium |
ppm
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2
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0.007
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0.006-0.007 |
2
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no
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Common
mineral in water
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Fluoride |
ppm
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4
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0.096
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0.096 |
4
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no
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Additive
for dental health
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Nitrate |
ppm
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10
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0.024
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0.024 |
10
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no
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Natural
deposits, stormwater/ fertilizer runoff
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Nitrite |
ppm
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1
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0.006
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0.006 |
1
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no
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Natural
deposits, stormwater/ fertilizer runoff
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KEY:
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level - the highest threshold of
contaminant allowed in water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs
as feasible using the best available technology.
MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal - The level of contaminant
in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk
to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
PPM = parts per million (about one drop in one 55-gallon
barrel of water).
ppb = parts per billion (about one drop in 1,000 barrels
of water).
pCi/L = picoCuries per liter. *(EPA considers 50 pCi/l to
be the level of concern for beta particles.
Avg. = average
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Results
for Treated Water
MWRA and local water
departments work together to test water all the way to the tap. We test
samples of water in the city and town systems each week for total coliform
bacteria. Total coliform bacteria can come from the intestines of warm-blooded
animals, and they also can be found in soil, on plants, and other places.
Most of the time, these bacteria are not harmful to humans. However, their
presence could signal that harmful bacteria from fecal waste may be there
as well. The EPA requires that no more than 5% of the samples in a given
month may be positive for total coliform. If a water sample tests positive
for total coliform, we run more specific tests for E.coli, which is a
pathogen (germ) found in human and animal fecal waste that can cause illness.
How did we do in 2002?
Water treatment-from the reservoir to community pipes - Because
of its excellent watershed conditions and protection, Quabbin Reservoir
does not need a filtration step in its treatment. The state Department
of Environmental Protection set special conditions in 1991 to maintain
Quabbins high quality water.
But, even high quality water must be properly treated. MWRA's licensed
treatment operators treat water at the reservoir before it enters the
Chicopee Valley Aqueduct. The first treatment step is the primary disinfection
where we carefully add measured doses of chlorine to water to kill pathogens
that may be present. Licensed operators from CVA communities perform additional
booster disinfection at the point where the local pipes take water from
the Aqueduct. This process, called residual disinfection, protects the
water while in the local pipes. Each community also treats the water to
reduce leaching of lead from home plumbing.
Chicopee Water Department - The treatment plant adds sodium bicarbonate
(similar to baking soda) and three other compounds to adjust the water
chemistry. This treatment has eliminated red water problems
at the tap caused by iron from the water mains, green stains on home plumbing
fixtures caused by copper, and the absorption of lead from home plumbing.
The lead and copper data on the next page shows that this treatment has
been very successful. As a result, Chicopee has been granted the option
to reduce the frequency of sampling under the regulations from 30 sites
once every six months to 30 sites once every three years.
Note: The City of Chicopee did not meet the minimum sampling requirements
for Total Coliform bacteria for the month of December 2002. Instead of
the required 60 samples, only 59 samples were collected. This omission
resulted in a Notice of Noncompliance. All 59 samples collected and tested
were negative for bacteria. This oversight did not affect water quality
or at any time pose a health risk to our customers.
Wilbraham
- The Water Departments Corrosion Control Program (CCP) continues
to operate extremely well. Our CCP is based on the flow-paced injection
of sodium silicate into Quabbin water. Lead and copper sampling is the
method DEP uses to determine the effectiveness of our CCP. Since the CCPs
inception in 1997, we have had five consecutive rounds of lead and copper
sampling over a four year period with excellent results. The DEP currently
requires Wilbraham to sample for lead and copper only once every three
years, due to our effective CCP. Wilbraham Water Department shared first
place with the City of Boston in the MA DEP Public Water Supply (PWS)
Awards Program for 2002. Our award category is for consecutive water systems,
which is defined as systems that purchase their water from another source.
This is the second year in a row that Wilbraham was ranked by DEP as the
number one PWS in the MWRA system. For the last eight consecutive years,
Wilbraham has placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in the Awards Program out of 54
PWS in our category.
South Hadley Fire District #1 - The Departments continued
use of Sodium Silicate for Corrosion Control is still successful in complying
with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) lead and copper
rule. Dependent upon the success of the annual sampling round in 2003,
the Department will be allowed to sample the required fifteen sites every
three years.
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Good
news about lead in tap water
All three CVA communities met the EPA standards for lead
in tap water. MWRA water is lead-free when it leaves the reservoirs. MWRA
and local pipes that carry the water to your community are made mostly
of iron and steel, and do not add lead to water. However, lead can get
into tap water through pipes in the home, lead solder used in plumbing,
and some brass fixtures. Corrosion or wearing away of lead-based materials
can add lead to tap water, especially if water sits for a long time in
the pipes before use.
What
are we doing about lead? - Your local water department tests tap water
at a number of homes in the communities. But not just any homes. Under
Environmental Protection Agency regulations, homes that are likely to
have high lead levels - usually older homes likely to have lead service
lines or lead solder-must be tested. The EPA rule requires that 9 out
of 10, or 90%, of these sampled homes must have lead levels below the
Action Level of 15 parts per billion (ppb).
Important
Lead Information from EPA
Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable
to lead in drinking water than the general population. It is possible
that lead levels at your home may be higher than those at other homes
in the community as a result of materials used in your home's plumbing.
If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home's water,
you may wish to have your water tested and flush your tap for 30 seconds
to 2 minutes before using tap water. Additional information is available
from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791.
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Your
Community Test Results:
Lead, Copper and Disinfection By-products
Lead,
Copper and Disinfection By-products Results
for 2002
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What
does this table tell me?This
table lists results for lead, copper, and disinfection
by-products including trihalomethanes and haloacetetic
acids.
What
is the bottom line? All
results for lead, copper, and disinfection
by-products were IN COMPLIANCE with drinking water regulations.
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Total
Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
MCL = 80 ppb
MCLG = 0
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Haloacetic
Acits
(HAAS)
MCL = 60 ppb
MCLG = 0
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Lead
Action Level 01 15 ppb
MCLG = 0 |
Copper
Action Level of 1.3 ppm
MCLG = 1.3 ppm |
Your
city or town |
ANNUAL
AVG.
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RANGE |
ANNUAL
AVG. |
RANGE |
#SITES
|
RESULTS |
#SITES
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RESULTS |
Chicopee |
37
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17-63 |
26
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7-40 |
0
of 30 |
2 |
0
of 30 |
0.13 |
South
Hadley FD #1 |
39
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23-59 |
16
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5-24 |
1
of 15 |
10 |
1
of 5 |
0.046 |
Wilbraham
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39 |
9-63 |
16 |
0-29 |
0
of 15 |
10.7 |
0
of 15 |
0.055 |
Westover
Air Force Base (1) |
NR
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NR |
NR
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NR |
0
of 6 |
12.6 |
0
of 6 |
0.220 |
MCL
= Maximum Contaminant Level - The highest level of a contaminant
allowed in water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using
the best available treatment technology. MCLG = Maximum Contaminant
Level Goal - The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which
there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin
of safety. AL = Action Level - The concentration of a contaminant
which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which
a water system must follow. (1) Westover Air Force Base receives
wholesale water from Chicopee. Consumers in these systems should see
Westover insert page for water quality analysis. ppm = parts
per million- about one drop in one fifty-five gallon barrel of water
ppb = parts per billion- about one drop in 1000 barrels of
water NR = Testing not required Avg = average |
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Important
information from EPA and DEP about...
Contaminants
in Bottled Water and Tap Water - Drinking water, including bottled
water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of
some contamination. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily
indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants
and potential health effects can be obtained by calling EPAs Safe
Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, Massachusetts DEP
and EPA prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants
in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations establish
limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection
for public health.
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Drinking Water and People with Weakened Immune Systems -Some people
may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than is the general
population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing
chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with
HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorder, some elderly, and infants can
be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice
about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines
on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium
and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking
Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).
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Where
to Go for Further Information
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Health
Issues
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Massachusetts
Department of Public Health (DPH) |
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Tel.:
(617) 624-6000
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US
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) |
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Tel.: (800)
311-3435
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List
of State Certified Water Quality Testing Labs |
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Tel.: (617)
242-5323
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Water
System and Regulations
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Massachusetts
Water Resources Authority (MWRA) |
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Tel.: (617)
242-5323
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Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection |
www.mass.gov/dep |
Tel.: (617)
292-5500
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Metropolitan
District Commission |
www.mass.gov/mdc/water.htm |
Tel.:
(617) 242-5323
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Source
Water Assessment and Protection Report |
www.mwra.com/sourcewater.htm |
Tel.: (617)
242-5323
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Community
Water Systems
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Chicopee
Water Department |
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Tel.: 413-594-3420
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South
Hadley Fire District #1 |
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Tel.: 413-532-0666
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Wilbraham
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Tel.: 413-596-2807
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Click
here for MWRA's monthly water quality report. |
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Additional
Versions of this Report are Available
For
the Metro Boston/MetroWest version of this report, click
here.
For
a large-type version of this report, please email your request
to Joshua Das, Project Manager, Public Health: JoshuaDas@mwra.state.ma.us
Share
Your Thoughts
Your comments on last year's report helped
us to improve it. To reduce costs, we've shortened the report this year,
with each copy costing only 25 cents to print and mail. Give us a call,
send us a letter or email, and let us know what you think.
Massachusetts
Water Resources Authority
100 First Avenue
Boston, MA 02129
attn: Joshua Das, Project Manager - Public Health
email:
JoshuaDas@mwra.state.ma.us
MWRA Water Quality Hotline: (617)
242-5323
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