Everett Community Letter 2022

The City of Everett in partnership with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) would like to present to you the 2022 annual water quality report.

Water Consumption: The City of Everett purchases all of its water directly from the MWRA. The average daily flow of water in 2022 was 3.732 million gallons per day. The single highest daily flow was on July 22, 2022 in the amount of 4.948 million gallons. The maximum flow week occurred from July 20 to July 26, 2022 in the amount of 33.08 million gallons.

Everett’s distribution system is comprised of approximately 70 miles of water mains ranging from two-inch to twenty four-inch in diameter, with 725 hydrants. There are approximately one thousand gate valves that allow isolated portions of the system to be shut down for repairs and maintenance. The system delivers water to homes, businesses and other facilities for drinking and fire protection.

Lead and Copper Results: The Everett Water Department tests for lead and copper once a year. In the September 2022 sampling round, Everett drinking water was below the lead Action Level (AL) of 15 parts per billion (ppb), with a 90th percentile result of 11.4 ppb. Copper 90th percentile results were 72.1 ppb, which is below the copper AL of 1300 ppb.

Some homes built before the 1950s may still have a lead service line connecting the house to the water main. To find out if you have a lead service line, and how to get it replaced, please contact the phone numbers listed below.

The Water Department had a lead and copper reporting violation for failure to provide notification to sampling participants within 30 days after the system learned of the monitoring results. All participants were notified but not within the 30 day requirement. We received a notice of non-compliance (NON) from DEP and were required to take follow up actions. We were required to complete and submit a compliance plan for MassDEP and to conduct all required public notices.

Total Coliform Tests in Community Pipes: To assure water quality and regulatory compliance, Everett and the MWRA collect 13 water samples each week and test for total coliform bacteria. The EPA requires that no more than 5% of the samples in a month may be positive for total coliform. Everett exceeded the 5% rule for total coliform in October of 2022. 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. We found coliforms indicating the need to look for potential problems in water treatment or distribution. When this occurs, we are required to conduct a Level 1 assessment to identify and correct any problems that were found during these assessments. We completed a Level 1 assessment of our water system and sampling procedure. We were required to take one corrective action to address the problem which was completed. We came to the conclusion that the increase in total coliforms was attributed to the chlorine residuals being lower than normal in a localized area of the city, due to lower water flows to the sampling locations. Hydrant flushing was conducted in this area to increase the chlorine residual in the water.

Maintenance: The water department replaced 107 lead water services in 2022. We also replaced over 3600 feet of water main. Unidirectional hydrant flushing was conducted in April and October to help remove sediments, improve water quality and increase the longevity of our water mains. All fire hydrants were inspected and operated to ensure proper operation. The valve exercising program was also continued. The Water Department replaced 5 hydrants, 15 inoperable gate valves and repaired 26 water leaks in 2022.

Cross Connection Program: The City also has a cross connection program in which backflow devices are tested annually or semiannually depending on the type of hazard to prevent contamination to the City’s drinking water system.

Please call the Water Department with any questions pertaining to your water or to public meetings. The Department of Public Works Commission meets every second Thursday of the month in City Hall at 6:00 pm.

Kim Rauseo 617-394-2327
Tameka Walsh 617-394-2325

Ernest Lariviere, Water Superintendent