Boston Community Letter 2022

Dear Customer:

This report contains an annual update on the quality of drinking water supplied to you by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC), in partnership with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). This report provides detailed information on the MWRA’s system and illustrates that the water delivered to Boston complies with federal and state quality standards.

BWSC was ranked highest in customer satisfaction in the Northeast by J.D. Power in their 2022 Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study. This was the second time in four years that we received this prestigious award. The study was based on several factors that included water quality, reliability, and conservation. In our efforts to promote conservation activities, this past year BWSC distributed over 750 water conservation kits to Boston residents.

BWSC continues to provide excellent drinking water to our customers through the investment of millions of dollars in upgrades to our infrastructure. The water provided by BWSC comes from the MWRA’s reservoirs, and the water is lead-free. Most BWSC distribution pipes that carry water to our customers are made of iron, steel, and copper. During BWSC’s Fall 2022 mandatory testing for lead in higher risk homes with lead service lines, the 90th percentile for lead was 12.6 parts per billion (ppb) below the Action Level (AL) of 15 ppb. The 90th percentile result for copper was 77.5 ppb, below the AL of 1300 ppb. The Commission has undertaken an accelerated program to identify and eliminate lead service lines, both in the public way, and on private property.

A principal priority of Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration is the health, and safety of the residents of Boston. The Commission’s outreach to property owners is facilitated by the Commission’s Lead Hotline. BWSC customers should call our Lead Hotline to schedule an inspection of their water service pipe, to determine whether it is composed of lead. In 2022, BWSC received over 380 customer requests to have their water service pipe inspected for lead, as well as performed vacuum investigations of 1,119 services, resulting in 324 lead replacements. BWSC’s Lead Replacement Incentive Program offers financial assistance to eligible property owners, in the form of a credit of up to $4,000.00 towards the cost of the replacement with the ability to pay any remaining balance interest-free over a 60-month period. For additional information about lead in drinking water and the Lead Replacement Incentive Program, call our lead hotline at (617) 989-7888. That information is also available on our website at: www.bwsc.org/environmenteducation/lead-your-water. Any questions regarding Commission meetings, or other information contained in this report, may be directed to BWSC’s Communications, and our Community Services Department at (617) 989-7250.

Sincerely,
Henry F. Vitale, CPA

Executive Director/Treasurer