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City of Malden, Massachusetts
Department Of Engineering
Malden Government Center
215 Pleasant St, Rm 320, Malden Massachusetts 02148
Public Water Supply
# 3165000
Dear Water Customer,
Your water and sewer systems are provided to you through a collaborative effort between the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and the City of Malden. The City works closely with the MWRA on testing and monitoring these systems in order to assure that regulatory standards are met.
The Malden water and sewer systems have been serving the community since the late 1800’s. The Engineering Department and Water Department are continuously updating and maintaining Malden’s water distribution system. One priority is its lead reduction program. The City continues to educate the public on the effects of lead in drinking water and of the potential for elevated lead levels in our drinking water. The results of the water tests for lead levels and related information can be seen on the City of Malden website and the MWRA website. As required, the Malden Water Department works with the MWRA to test water for lead levels each year.
In spring 2022, Malden’s result for lead was 6.57 parts per billion (ppb), which was below the Action Level for lead of 15 ppb. The copper result was 109 ppb, which was below the copper Action Level of 1300 ppb. In fall 2022, Malden’s result for lead was 14.0 parts per billion (ppb), which is below the Action Level of 15 ppb; and the Copper result was 76.5 ppb which is below the Copper Action Level of 1300 ppb. The Fall results are shown below:
| Range | 90% Value | Action Level | MCLG | Samples Over Action Level | |
| Lead (ppb) | 0.11-40.60 ppb | 14 ppb | 15 ppb | 0 ppb | 2 |
| Copper (ppb) | 7.4-109 ppb | 76.5 ppb | 1300 ppb | 1300 ppb | 0 |
A Lead Service Line Replacement program has been established that includes a long-term commitment to replace at least 150 lead water services per year. In 2022 the Engineering Department, in collaboration with the Department of Water Utilities, exceeded this goal. As part of the overall plan, photos and documentation are now kept for each repair made, and the Lead Water Service Map found on the City website at: www.cityofmalden.org/222/Find-out-if-You-Have-Lead-Service-Lines is updated. Efforts are also underway to create funding programs to assist with lead water service replacement on private property. In 2023, the City will utilize American Recovery Program Act (ARPA) funds to replace lead lines in areas with the most children and underserved populations. The City in partnership with the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (formerly the Malden Redevelopment Authority) also offers low-interest loans to help eligible homeowners finance the replacement of the private portion of lead service lines. For more information, please call the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development at 781-397-1940.
The water distribution systems (main pipes) of both Malden and the MWRA do not contain lead. However, some properties built prior to 1987 may have lead water services and other water-piping components, which may contain lead. Studies have shown that infants and children who drink water with lead levels in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure. The City of Malden wants all its water customers to have access to the information and programs available regarding lead in the drinking water.
Malden was also cited by MassDEP for monitoring and reporting violations during 2018–2022 related to the Lead and Copper Rule. The violations included: failure to accurately update our lead sampling plan; failure to update the materials evaluation of our water distribution system maps and databases; failure to collect the required number of samples from Tier 1 sampling locations; and not including the number of sites exceeding the action level in the 2020 and 2021 annual water quality reports. We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking water meets health standards. During 2018–2022 we did not complete all monitoring or testing for lead and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during that time. There is nothing you need to do at this time. Malden is taking steps to address these issues including regularly updating our service line inventory; improving sampling site evaluations; including all the required information in this report. We will continue working to achieve full compliance with the regulations.
More detailed information on these issues and how we corrected them is available on-line here, or call us at: 781-397-7160 for a printed copy. Please share this information with anyone who may not have received this notice directly.
Please visit the City’s website at www.cityofmalden.org and the MWRA’s website, www.mwra.com for information on meetings. You can also contact the City of Malden by calling 781-397-7040 for further information, or to schedule a free water test to identity lead levels in any house constructed prior to 1987 or for copies of free educational brochures about the hazards of lead. Please share this information with anyone who may not have received this notice directly. Thank you.
Malden Engineering Department
Malden Water Utilities Department
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Monitoring Requirements Not Met for the City of Malden
Our water system violated several drinking water requirements during 2018 to 2022. Even though these were not emergencies, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did to correct these situations.
We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking water meets health standards. During 2018-2022 we did not complete all monitoring or testing for lead and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during that time.
What should I do?
There is nothing you need to do at this time.
What happened?
Our records related to the Lead and Copper Rule for the years 2018 to 2022 were reviewed by EPA and MassDEP in the Spring of 2022. That review found that while we sampled each year as required, some of our records were insufficient or inadequate. Because our records of which homes still had lead service lines were not fully up to date, in some cases we monitored locations that did not meet the requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule. Therefore while we collected the right number of samples, they were not all the appropriate “Tier 1” category and cannot be credited towards the requirements.
The table below shows how many samples we were required to sample, how many we took, and how many were of the required Tier 1 category. Collecting fewer than the required number of samples from Tier 1 (lead service line or lead solder) sampling locations is a monitoring violation. Once we were alerted to the violation, we updated our records, and collected the right number of samples from appropriate locations in October of 2022:
| Required Sampling Frequency | Total Number of Samples Collected | Number of Samples Taken at Required Locations | |
| Lead | 2018 | 15 | 12 of 15 required |
| Lead | 2019 | 15 | 11 of 15 required |
| Lead | 2020 | 15 | 11 of 15 required |
| Lead | 2021 | 15 | 10 of 15 required |
| Lead | Every 6 months – 2022 | 40 | 34 of 40 required |
Our violations also included these two related recordkeeping violations:
- Failure to accurately update the sampling plan submitted for MassDEP approval.
- Failure to update and maintain the materials evaluation as part of the water system distribution system maps and associated databases.
Even though we did not sample at the required Tier 1 locations, Malden exceeded the lead action level during 2021, and the required educational materials were sent to all residents.
We also had a reporting violation because although we provided the correct 90th percentile results, we did not also include the number of samples over the action level in the annual water quality report in 2020 and 2021.
What Corrective Actions Have We Taken:
- Malden’s service line inventory is now being updated regularly. Malden is in the process of completing a complete updated inventory of every
service line using the MassDEP Materials Inventory Spreadsheet that is due by October 2024. The information on service lines is provided on our web site at www.cityofmalden.org/222/Find-out-if-You-Have-Lead-Service-Lines - Any new sampling sites will be determined by verifying existing water cards, the GIS Lead map, and/or a visual inspection and photo documentation of the lead service before being adding to our sampling site plan to ensure they meet the regulatory requirements.
- This year’s annual water quality report includes all the information required on lead results in an easy to read table.
For more information, please contact the Malden Engineering Department at 781-397-7040, or ylip@CITYOFMALDEN.ORG
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
This notice is being sent to you via the on-line version of the Annual Water Quality Report
Updated June 29, 2023