Bedford Community Letter 2021

BEDFORD’S WATER SYSTEM

In 2021, Bedford supplied 550 million gallons of water to our residential, retail and industrial customers. This usage is the same as in 2020 (550 MG), resulting in an average daily usage of 1.5 million gallons. Our average residential use is 53 gallons per person per day. Bedford’s peak day demand was 2.7 million gallons. In 2021, however, Bedford was 100% supplied by MWRA water. In previous years, 90% of our water came from the MWRA through 3-meter vaults at the Lexington town line and 10% from the Shawsheen Treatment Facility. Currently, the three Shawsheen wells that supplied our water are still off-line while we work with MassDEP to determine safe and cost-effective measures related to PFAS. Bedford’s Water System includes approximately 80 miles of water mains, 800 fire hydrants, approximately 760 backflow prevention devices, 5,000 service connections and three storage tanks.

WATER DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS

This year the Water Division began work to retrofit the Pine Hill and Crosby Drive water tanks to upgrade treatment methods and techniques. Additionally, our water consultant completed a hydraulic model of the Town’s distribution system to assess current water sources and pressures to identify system improvements. We also upgraded security measures to our SCADA system as part of an assessment for risk and resiliency. As part of our regular maintenance, over 200 hydrants were flushed to remove sediments in dead-end water mains, and another 100 hydrants were cleaned, flagged and painted. Older/leaking hydrants are replaced as needed.

WATER QUALITY TESTING

The Water Division regularly tests for various parameters to monitor water quality. MWRA’s results for various parameters are listed in the beginning of this report. In addition to the regulated testing noted below, the calcium concentration was 5.2 ppm, and hardness was 17 ppm.

From August through November 2021, total coliform bacteria were detected above the 1 positive/per month limit of samples, which required us to conduct one Level 1, and three Level 2 Assessments. Level 1 and 2 Assessments are studies of the water to identify potential problems, and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria were found in our water system on multiple occasions. Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as indicators for other, potentially harmful, waterborne pathogens, which may be present or that a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the water distribution system. Based on the results of the Level 2 Assessments we will be upgrading the disinfection system in our storage tanks. We performed additional hydrant flushing to improve water quality.

LEAD & COPPER IN BEDFORD

The Bedford Water Division and the MWRA adjust the pH of your water, making it less corrosive in order to prevent the leaching of lead and copper from household plumbing. In compliance with the MassDEP Lead and Copper Rule, the Town performed lead and copper sampling in 2019. 30 homes, the 4 public schools and 2 daycare facilities were tested, with results below the MassDEP Action Levels (see below). Our next sampling for lead and copper is scheduled for the summer of 2022.

If you would like more information about Bedford’s water system or public meetings, please call, or visit our website.

Jason Raposa, Water & Sewer Operations Manager
(781) 918-4255, www.bedfordma.gov