Reading Community Letter 2021

Dear Customer:

This 2021 Drinking Water Quality Report contains an annual update on the quality of drinking water supplied to you by the Town of Reading Department of Public Works (DPW) Water Division, in partnership with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). The water delivered to you is of the highest quality and complies with all Federal and State Regulations and Parameters.

In 2021, Reading purchased 606.69 MG (Million Gallons) of water from the MWRA. Reading’s average total daily usage of water for 2021 was 1.66 MGD (Million Gallons per Day). The highest single days’ consumption of water by the Town occurred on Monday June 7th at 3.17 MG. The highest seven (7) day consumption of water occurred from Saturday June 5th to Friday June 11th at an amount of 18.39 MG. Reading residents used a total of 439.15 MG of water. Each Reading resident has an average water use of 16,502 gallons annually, 1,375 gallons monthly or 45.2 Residential Gallons Per Capita Per Day (R-GPCD). A Reading resident’s average water daily use of that 45.2 gallons is roughly 30.4% below the MassDEP limit of 65 R-GPCD.

Reading’s Water Conservation Program (WCP), which emphasizes water saving devices, rebates & audits at no cost to Reading residents continued with great success in 2021, awarding $11,785 in rebates to 83 residents for 49 energy efficient washing machines and 39 rain barrels. Since the program’s inception in 2003, $629,425 has been rebated to 3,713 residents. For information about Reading’s WCP, please call 781-942- 9077 or visit www.readingma.gov/public-works/water-division/pages/water-conservation-information.

In 2021, the Reading Water Department collected regular weekly water quality samples from all over the Town. Annually, we collect and send over 500 water quality samples to the laboratory for analysis . The Water Division found two (2) Total Coliform Positive (TC+) samples in the second week of November 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 that a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system. When coliforms are found, we are required to re-sample that area for further testing. Re-sampling was performed and all the results were non-detect. Reading also tests annually for nitrites (NO2), nitrates (NO3) and ammonia (NH3-N) as required by MassDEP. These substances are biologically active compounds, both natural and human-made, that are found in the environment. Reading’s 2021 results for these compounds were all below regulated levels with the highest test results of 0.00597 mg/L for NO2, 0.0710 mg/L for NO3 and 0.515 mg/L for Ammonia.

As part of MassDEP Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) Monitoring Plan Regulations, Reading Water Division sampled for lead and copper in the water from residential homes all over Town in 2020. As with our prior Triennial sampling years of 2017 and 2014, all of Reading’s LCR testing results were within regulatory limits. The 2020 90th percentile of all sample results was 4.96 ppb for lead, well below the Action Level (AL)   of 15 ppb, and 86 ppb for copper, far below an AL of 1300 ppb. LCR sampling will take place again in 2023. Additionally, the Water Division continued to work with Reading Facilities & School Departments to maintain our Town’s LCCA (Lead  Contamination  Control  Act) Plan that tests and manages any lead and copper found in our school, public building or public drinking water fountains. Reading’s LCCA Plan   & Test Results can be found on the Town’s Website at: https://www.readingma.gov/public-works/water-division/pages/readings-lcca-lead- contamination-control-act-plan

For additional information on Reading’s water system, compliance or water quality programs, testing and results, visit our Water Quality Webpage: www.readingma.gov/water-division/pages/water-quality-supply For MWRA Water Quality Reports: www.mwra.com. For information about Massachusetts water regulations: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-environmental-protection. Reading’s Drinking Water Policies are set by the Board of Selectmen, which generally meets on the first, third and fourth Tuesday of each month in the Town Hall at 7:00 P.M. If you have any questions regarding your water quality, specific testing programs, your water service connections or our lead or copper test results please contact Erik Mysliwy our Town’s Water Quality & DPW Safety Administrator via phone, 781-942-9092 x1215 or better via email, emysliwy@ci.reading.ma.us.