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TOWN OF BELMONT
Department of Public Works
Highway • Recreation, Parks & Cemetery • Water
Jay Marcotte, MPA, Director
Michael A. Santoro, Assistant Director
Public Water Supply #3026000
The Water Division continues with the ambitious long-term Capital Improvement Program called “The Water Main Replacement Program”. The program began in 1995, is nearing the end of its 30-year program. The program’s intent was to replace 40% of the old, deteriorated and under sized water mains. We are committed to extend the program into the foreseeable future. Currently, over 37 miles of old water mains have been replaced with new larger diameter ductile iron pipe.
In 2022, the “Sycamore Road” project included the portion of Sycamore Road from Lexington St. to the Watertown line. We worked with Watertown’s DPW to improve our emergency interconnection, which will provide both communities with new valves and a new hydrant. The other streets addressed were Chester Road and Gorham Road. Gorham Road required a replacement of a 6 inch old cast iron water main with a new 8 inch ductile iron main with new valves and hydrants. Chester Road had two water mains, an old 6 inch cast iron and a newer 10 inch ductile main installed in the late 70’s. We removed the 6 inch water main and installed the water services to the 10 inch water main. New hydrants were installed as well. Our Smart Meter Replacement Program is in its’ home stretch with approximately 45 meters left out of 11,325. Customers can review their daily usage through the “Smart Hub” portal.
The Water Advisory Board (WAB) continues its function to advocate and advise the Town of policies, operations management, water and sewer billing disputes, financial practices, and capital investments that will result in the sustained provision of high-quality water service. The WAB conducts public meetings throughout the year. Meetings are posted on our web page at: www.belmont-ma.gov.
On August 9, 2023 MassDEP issued Belmont a Notice of Noncompliance (NON) regarding Belmont’s Cross Connection Control Program. Belmont provided a plan to MassDEP to address the issues cited related to cross connections in the system, which was approved. To address this issue our program will include a new position at the Water Division. The Cross Connection Control Inspector will ensure that businesses that use our water for processes that could potentially contaminate the water supply have the appropriate backflow devices to eliminate flow from back-siphonage or back pressure. Locations include dental offices, funeral homes, hospitals and dry cleaners. Every three years MassDEP does a comprehensive audit of the Water Division and checks the different programs; metering, sampling, how water main repairs are done, and the Cross Connection Program. We had one re-test that went past the fourteen day requirement. With the new position and fees, we will be more proactive in our program.
Our annual Lead and Copper Sampling Program, which identifies internal plumbing interaction with the drinking water is done in September. Twenty (20) residential and two (2) schools are selected and approved by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). We were notified that one residential location tested 1.2 ppb above the Action Level for lead. We immediately replaced the water service to the property line, supplied information on the health effects of lead to the owner, and provided a PUR pitcher with 6 months of filters.
All other samples were well under both Action Levels. We notified the other locations, however, past the 30-day requirement. We have instituted protocols to ensure that every sampling site is notified within the specified time period.
| Range | 90% Value | Action Level | MCLG | Samples Over Action Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0.1-16.2 ppb | 2.97 ppb | 15 ppb | 0 ppb | 1 of 20 |
| Copper | 13.4 - 204 ppb | 118 ppb | 1300 ppb | 1300 ppb | 0 of 20 |
To provide the division with an overview of the distribution system, the division collects 8 water samples each week from across the system (32 samples per month) to test for coliform bacteria. This gives the division an overview of the overall health of the distribution system. MassDEP and EPA require that no more than 5% of the samples in a month may be positive. We had one (1) sample that was positive. The site was re-sampled including a sample from up-stream and down-stream sites, all were negative.
The Water Division continues to work in cooperation with all the agencies - MWRA, MassDEP and the US EPA - to ensure that Belmont’s residents are supplied with a safe, reliable and adequate supply of drinking water. If you have any questions regarding this report, any other water quality issue, or water related meetings, contact Mark Mancuso, Water Division Manager at 617-993-2707.
19 Moore Street (PO Box 56), Belmont, MA 02478
Telephone (617) 993-2680 • Facsimile (617) 993-2681