Waltham Community Letter 2022

The annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is provided for your consideration. In cooperation with the MWRA, the Water & Sewer Division of the DPW presents facts about where your water comes from, how it is tested, and most importantly, what we do to maintain water quality. For additional information on local water projects, please visit the City website at www.city.waltham.ma.us/engineering. For information on public meetings visit the City website at city.waltham.ma.us or call 781-314-3120.

Our Water Distribution System:

The City of Waltham purchases all of its water directly from MWRA. The water is delivered through eight master water meters into the City’s water distribution system. The water distribution system consists of the network of water pipes, gate valves, fire hydrants and service laterals. The system delivers water to homes, businesses and other facilities for drinking and other uses. Waltham’s water Distribution system consists of 170 miles of water mains, ranging in size from 4 to 24 inches in diameter. There are approximately 14,000 water service connections to homes and businesses. The city owns and maintains 1,600 fire hydrants. There are 3,300 water gate valves in the distribution system that allow us to control the flow of water and isolate portions of the system to be shut down for repairs and maintenance.

Lead and Copper Water Sample Results:

The Waltham Water and Sewer Division annually tests the water for lead and copper levels in 15 homes and two schools. The lead sampling results completed in September 2022 were below the DEP Lead Action Level of 15 ppb (parts per billion), with a result of 1.89 ppb. The 90th percentile result of 79 ppb was also below the Copper Action level of 1,300 ppb

Total Coliform Bacteria Testing In Water Pipes:

MWRA and Waltham conduct 72 water sample tests each month for total coliform bacteria to monitor the water distribution system. The EPA requires that no more than 5% of the water samples in a month may be positive. Waltham did not exceed this level for any month in 2022.

Water Distribution System Maintenance and Improvements:

The Water & Sewer Division repaired and/or replaced 160 water services and repaired 17 water mains in 2023. Through the Engineering Dept., they replaced or installed 119 water services, 50 feet of 6 inch, 2,324 feet of 8 inch and 59 feet of 12-inch water mains. Annually the Waltham Fire Department checks every City owned fire hydrant for operability, then the Water & Sewer Division makes repairs to the out-of-service hydrants during the course of the year. We repainted and added mixing systems to our two four-million-gallon water tanks at Prospect Hill in the fall of 2022. After completing the repainting of the tanks, we tested for compounds typically found in paint. Only one was found and it below EPA and MassDEP standards as shown in the table below.

For information relative to drinking water quality in the Waltham Public Schools please visit the website www.walthampublicschools.org/about/facilities/. If you have any questions on your water service or would like more information please call us at the following phone numbers:

Sincerely,
Michael Chiasson, Director of Public Works