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MWRA Water Treatment
Massachusetts water Resources Authority
Treatment
MWRA's licensed treatment operators treat drinking water according to strict state and federal regulations.
| Water for most MWRA communities (except Chicopee, South Hadley Fire District #1 and Wilbraham) is treated at the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant at Walnut Hill in Marlborough. Water from the Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs enters the plant through the Cosgrove Aqueduct. The treated water leaves leaves the plant through the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel and the Hultman Aqueduct. |
Treatment |
Dose |
Purpose |
| Ozone |
1.5-4.0 mg/l |
Primary disinfectant, to achieve 99.9% Giardia inactivation |
| Sodium bisulfite |
0.0-3.5 mg/l |
To remove ozone |
| Ultraviolet Light |
>2 log inactivation |
Second primary disinfectant, to inactivate chemically resistant parasites such as Cryptosporidium |
| Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) |
3-4 mg/l |
For residual disinfection, to protect water as it travels through the pipe network |
| Hydrofluorosilicic acid (fluoride) |
0.7 mg/l |
For dental health |
| Aqueous ammonia |
0.6-0.85 mg/l |
To combine with chlorine to form
monochloramine for residual disinfection |
| Sodium carbonate |
35-37 mg/l |
To raise the alkalinity of the water for pH buffering; to minimize lead and copper leaching from home plumbing |
| Carbon dioxide |
4.5-8.5 mg/l |
To adjust pH to final level |
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Water Treatment Steps for Chicopee Valley Area Communities |
| Water for Chicopee, South Hadley Fire District #1 and Wilbraham is treated at the William A Brutsch Water Treatment Facility in Ware, Massachusetts. Water from the Quabbin Reservoir is treated at the facility and treated water water leaves the plant through the Chicopee Valley Aqueduct. Each community further treats the water to reduce the chances that lead and copper from home plumbing could dissolve into tap water. |
Treatment |
Dose |
Purpose |
| Chlorine |
1.2-2.2 mg/l |
Primary disinfectant, to achieve 99.9 percent Giardia inactivation, as well as residual disinfectant |
| Ultraviolet Light |
>2 log inactivation |
Second primary disinfectant, to inactivate chemically resistant parasites such as Cryptosporidium |
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Updated
August 23, 2022
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