Arlington Community Letter 2021

The Arlington Department of Public Works, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), is pleased to provide this annual water quality report to keep you informed about your water system.

Our Distribution System

Arlington receives all of its water directly from the MWRA. After traveling miles from the Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs, and being treated at state of the art water quality facilities, your water is delivered through five MWRA master meters into the Town’s distribution system. Arlington’s distribution system is comprised of approximately 130 miles of water mains ranging from six to twenty inches in diameter, with approximately 1,400 hydrants.

Lead and Copper

We receive many inquiries about lead in the drinking water. The simple answer is there is no lead in the water supply; however, lead can enter your tap water through contact with brass fixtures (which contain lead in the alloy), lead solder (which is now outlawed), old lead plumbing in the house or in the service line from the main to your house. If you are concerned you may have a lead service line, please contact the DPW at the number below. Arlington annually collects and tests water from properties with lead piping to test for the presence of lead and copper. The results of these tests are included here:

September 2021 Lead and Copper Results (ppb=parts per billion)

In 2020, Arlington’s efforts to remove lead services were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, and we were not able to replace lines at two of the five sites required by MassDEP. In April 2021, the MassDEP issued an Administrative Consent Order mandating that 46 remaining lead services in our system be removed prior to December 31, 2025.

Water Main Upgrades

Each year Arlington works to replaces aging water mains. In 2022, with help from the MWRA’s Local Pipeline Assistance Program, the Town plans to replace a total of approximately 10,000 linear feet of water main in the following locations: Sunnyside Avenue, Gardner Street (Fremont to Decatur), Memorial Way, Broadway (Sunnyside to North Union), Decatur Street, Silk Street (Broadway to Michael Street), Gardner Street (Broadway to Fremont), Michael Street (Sunnyside to Gardner) and Hilton Street.

Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Removal

Through an Enforcement Order by the Department of Environmental Protection, Arlington is working to remove sources of I&I. I&I consists of clean water entering the sewer system and is prohibited by State Law. Common sources include sump pumps that are connected directly to the sanitary sewer line, or indirectly with hoses into sinks or floor drains. These connections add unnecessary flow to the sewer system and often result in overflows during periods of heavy rain. In the coming months, the Town will be contacting property owners where such connections have been documented or are suspected and options for removal will be presented.

If you have any questions or comments on the information presented, or want to learn about public meetings, please call us at the following numbers or visit www.arlingtonma.gov.

Thank you,
Michael W. Rademacher, PE
Director of Public Works

Updated June 14, 2022