Needham Community Letter 2022

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 1930’s. 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 Metro West Tunnel in Weston to the St. Mary’s booster pumping station. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) 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). 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 3.6 million gallons of water per day in 2022. 68% was supplied by its primary source and the remaining 32% 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. We conducted sanitary and security inspections on both Dunster Road & Birds Hill water tanks. Needham also performs regular preventative maintenance by replacing older water meters and upgrading older water mains. The Town hired a contractor to replace a main transmission line from Marked Tree Rd @ High Rock St to Central Ave @ Pine St. 5358 feet of 16” water main plus an additional 120 feet of various main sizes off the transmission line. Needham also replaced 8 older fire hydrants, conducted a system wide leak detection survey. Wells 1A and 3A at the Charles River Water Treatment Facility were re-developed (cleaned) to bring back their original yields (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/23971/2022-Water-Quality-final-report.

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 is adjusted by adding sodium hydroxide to raise the natural pH and alkalinity, thereby reducing the water’s corrosiveness to household plumbing. Water is disinfected by adding chlorine to inactivate any pathogens in the water, and to maintain a chlorine residual in the distribution system. Fluoride is added to prevent tooth decay and cavities, and polyphosphate is added 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 was below the regulated level of 20 parts per trillion (ppt) 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 2022, Needham collected over 500 water samples analyzing over 100 potential contaminants and found these to be well below all State and Federal regulations established by MassDEP. The Town has successfully maintained lead and copper levels well below the EPA requirements of 15 ppb (parts per billion) for lead and 1.3 (parts per million) for copper. Thirty samples were tested during July to September 2020. Contact the Needham Water Department to find out if you have a lead service line coming into your home. Lead services should be removed entirely to prevent lead in your drinking water.

The next round of Lead & Copper sampling will be in the summer of 2023. 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.