Melrose Community Letter 2021

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Dear Consumer:
The Melrose Department of Public Works is pleased to provide this annual water quality report to keep you informed about your water system. It includes water quality test data, as well as other information about the water delivered to your property. We hope that this report provides you with a better understanding of your water supply and confidence in its use.

Melrose purchases water directly from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). The water is delivered from MWRA’s transmission mains into the City’s distribution system, a network of approximately 90 miles of pipes and hundreds of isolation valves and hydrants. The system delivers water to over 8,500 homes, businesses, and other facilities for drinking and other uses, and provides fire protection throughout the City.

Melrose is continuing an intensive, citywide construction program aimed at upgrading water infrastructure to improve localized water quality and fire flows and decrease the City’s overall water consumption through the elimination of pipes prone to leakage and breaks. These projects also included the replacement of water services from the new main to the property line. The City also continued replacing substandard water services on all roads slated for paving as part of our annual roads program. The improvements were consistent with our capital efficiency plan - a multi-year water main replacement program developed to keep pace with aging infrastructure and prioritize the needs of various water system components.

In 2021, the City continued our program to replace all water meters to provide better accuracy, more efficient meter reading, and more timely identification of household leaks. Approximately 98.4% of the properties in Melrose now have new meters. Additionally, in 2021 the City performed our biennial flushing program, flushing all water mains in the system and testing hydrants and valves. Annual leak detection was also performed in water mains citywide.

Melrose tests tap water samples weekly in nine locations for coliform. Coliform bacteria were detected in six samples in October 2021. Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, waterborne pathogens may be present or a pathway or source may allow contamination to enter the drinking water distribution system. Following routine water sampling, we found coliforms indicating the need to look for potential problems in water treatment or piping systems. We were required to conduct and completed a Level 1 assessment, which is a detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems, and to determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been found. It was determined that the cause was a low chlorine residual in the water system, potentially caused by high organics in the water from a rainy summer and fall. The City worked to raise the chlorine residual system wide.

The City continues to receive inquiries about lead in the drinking water. The simple answer is that there is no lead in the water supply that comes to Melrose; however, lead can enter your tap water through contact with brass fixtures (which may contain lead in the alloy), lead solder (which is now outlawed), old indoor lead plumbing, or in the service line from the water main to your house. Lead levels are of concern because children who drink water containing lead in excess of the Action Level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure. Melrose conducted sampling for lead and copper in March and again in September 2021.

Both sampling rounds included collecting 15 samples from residences and four from schools. None of the samples collected in March exceeded the action level for either lead (Action Level is 15 ppb) or copper (Action Level is 1300 ppb). In September, two locations for residential samples were above the action limit for lead. The 90th percentile value was 21.3 ppb. All samples for copper were below the action limit and the 90th percentile value was 150 ppb. The two residential properties with lead exceedances were promptly notified. As a result of the lead results, the City performed extensive outreach to the community, including direct mailings and additional information on both water bills and on our website. In addition, separate letters were sent to properties with suspected lead services in areas where water main replacement work is planned for 2022. The outreach to the community regarding lead focuses on encouraging homeowners with lead services on their private property to replace those services. In the Spring of 2022, Melrose was required to carry out an additional round of lead sampling. The 90th percentile was 8.31 ppb, well below the lead Action Level.

To find out if you have a lead service line and how it can be replaced, please contact us at 781-979-4172. For more information on lead, please see pages 4 and 5 of this report. If you require further information, or would like information on public meetings, go to our website at: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/, or please call the Melrose Water Division at 781-979-4172 or the MWRA at 617-242-5323.

Sincerely,
Elena Proakis Ellis, P.E., BCEE

Updated June 14, 2022