Boston Community Letter 2023

City Of Boston
Boston Water And Sewer Commission 980 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02119-2540
617-989-7000

Public Water Supply # 3035000

Dear Customer: 
This report contains an annual update on the quality of drinking water supplied to you by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC), in partnership with Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA).  Inside this report, there is detailed information on the MWRA’s system, and how the water delivered to Boston complies with federal and state quality standards. 

BWSC is pleased to announce that effective January 1, 2023, changes were made to one of our signature programs. BWSC now offers Boston property owners free inspection and replacement of private lead services to all eligible Boston property owners who participate in the No Cost Private Lead Replacement Incentive Program.  While water service lines on private property are the responsibility of the property owner, BWSC is aware that excessive amounts of lead in the body can present health risks and that some older homes in Boston may have a lead service line.  BWSC urges customers to take advantage of this free program! We were once again ranked highest in customer satisfaction in the Northeast by J.D. Power award for 2023 Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study and will continue providing customer service at the highest level.

For background, the water provided by BWSC comes from MWRA’s reservoirs and it is lead-free. Most of BWSC’s distribution pipes that carry water to homes are made of iron, steel, and copper. In the fall of 2023 BWSC conducted mandatory testing in homes that are known to have a lead service line as required by US EPA and MassDEP. The test results in these higher risk homes, showed that the 90th percentile for lead was 21.3 parts per billion (ppb), above the Action Level (AL) of 15 ppb.  The 90th percentile for copper was 115 ppb, below the AL of 1300 ppb. Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.

* MCLG is the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal set by EPA

The Commission continues to increase its efforts to identify and eliminate lead service lines, both in the public way, and on private property.  Aiding property owners through the No Cost Private Lead Replacement Incentive Program is intended to remove financial barriers to customers and further our efforts to remove lead service lines.

Due to the health risks associated with lead, especially in children and pregnant woman, property owners should take advantage of this program. BWSC customers can call our Lead Hotline at (617) 989-7888 to schedule a free inspection at their property to confirm the composition of their service line. In 2023, BWSC received over 860 customer requests to have their water service pipe inspected for lead, resulting in 387 lead replacements noting that the majority of our customers have a copper line.       

For more information about lead in drinking water, Commission meetings, and other BWSC programs, visit www.bwsc.org or contact BWSC’s Communications Department at (617) 989-7000.
 

Sincerely, 
Henry F. Vitale, CPA
Executive Director/Treasurer