Needham Community Letter 2021

Needham Water Supply: 

Needham draws its drinking water from two separate sources. The primary source of the Town’s drinking water comes from three gravel packed ground water wells located here in Town also known as the Charles River Water Treatment Facility. This well field has been the major source of water supply since the 1930s. The Town’s secondary source is from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). The MWRA supply enters Needham’s distribution system through a 36” diameter pipe that runs from the MWRA’s MetroWest Tunnel in Weston to the St. Mary’s booster pumping station. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) limits the amount of water the Town can take from the Charles River basin at an annual average of 2.63 MGD (million gallons a day). Therefore we use the MWRA when there’s a higher demand for water such as in the summer and for firefighting situations. Needham used an average of 3.25 million gallons of water per day in 2021. 73% was supplied by its primary source and the remaining 27% was from the MWRA secondary source.

Source Water Assessment: 

MassDEP approved the Town’s water source protection based on land use and operational restrictions in areas of influence to the Town’s drinking water wells. The assessment helps focus protection efforts on appropriate best management practices and drinking water source protection measures. The complete assessment report is available on line: www.mass.gov/lists/source-water-assessment-and-protection-swap-program-documents .

Water Department Operations: 

The Needham Department of Public Works water division maintains and operates the Charles River Water Treatment Facility and its water distribution system to deliver water to its customers. The system consists of 146 miles of water mains, 3,400 gate valves and 10,283 service connections. 1,245 fire hydrants and two water storage tanks provide a combined 4 million gallons of storage. Needham also conducts regular preventative maintenance by replacing older water meters and upgrading older water mains. The Town replaced 360 feet of 6” water main on Concord St, upgraded to 6” and replaced 200 feet of water main on Alder Brook Lane. In addition, we replaced 12 older fire hydrants. Well #2 at the Charles River Water Treatment Facility was cleaned and re-developed to bring back its original yield (specific capacity). The DPW continues to undertake construction and maintenance projects designed to provide our customers with the safest and most reliable supply of drinking water. You will also receive a separate report outlining these projects and water quality results from our local supplies at: www.needhamma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/23971/2021-Water-Quality-final-report.

Do I Have a Lead Service Line? 

A service line connects your building’s plumbing to the water main in the street. Contact the Needham Water Department to find out if you have a lead service line. You can scratch the pipe entering your home near your water meter with a key. Lead pipes will show a dull grey or silver color, while copper pipes will not. Contact the Needham Water Department about removal of lead service lines.

Water Treatment: 

To maintain compliance with Federal and State drinking water regulations, Needham conducts a DEP water quality sampling program. Needham well water must be treated before it reaches consumer’s taps. This includes oxidation and removal of iron and manganese with sodium hypochlorite via filtration, pH adjustment by adding sodium hydroxide to raise the natural pH and alkalinity thereby reducing the water’s corrosiveness to household plumbing, disinfection via the addition of chlorine to inactivate any pathogens that may be present in the water and to maintain a chlorine residual in the distribution system. Also added is fluoride, which prevents tooth decay and cavities, and polyphosphate to minimize calcium from precipitating in homes.

Monitoring Water For PFAS: 

PFAS compounds continue to be an environmental concern. In 2020 the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) published a drinking standard for the sum of PFAS6. Needham’s water showed detected levels of PFAS, but were below the regulated level that MassDEP set.

Water Analysis: 

Needham’s Water Division along with the MWRA analyze water samples regularly to ensure the Town’s drinking water meets or exceeds MassDEP drinking water quality standards. In 2021, Needham collected 492 water samples analyzing over 100 potential contaminants, and found these to be well below all State and Federal standards. Needham did exceed its monthly RTCR (revised total coliform rule) sampling in July and October. During the past year one Level 1 assessment and one Level 2 assessment of the entire distribution system was required and completed. In addition, we were required to take corrective actions by flushing water mains to improve overall water quality, which was completed. The Town has successfully maintained lead levels well below the MassDEP Action Level of 15 ppb (parts per billion).
The 90th percentile for lead in 2020 was 3.0 ppb. The 90th percentile for copper was 30 ppb, below the Action Level for copper of 1300 ppb.

If you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of the drinking water quality, or to find out about public meetings, please contact: Stephen Cusick, Water Treatment Plant Manager 781-416-4071 or Michael Retzky, Water & Sewer Superintendent 781-455-7550.