Winthrop Community Letter 2023

The Winthrop Department of Public Works (DPW) is pleased to provide this annual water quality report to keep you informed about our water distribution system and water quality. Winthrop purchases all of its water directly from the MWRA. We are happy to have a partnership with the MWRA in our mission to supply some of the best quality water in the country. This water is delivered through a series of master meters and the pressure is regulated at the town’s pressure reducing station before being conveyed through the network of buried water mains and ultimately to your home or business.

Meter Replacement Program: 

To enhance meter reading productivity and customer service, Winthrop has converted to a radio read system and continues to work on a town-wide meter replacement project, which is approximately 90% complete. This initiative has helped reduce unaccounted water and has enhanced our customer support capabilities.

Leak Detection and Backflow Protection: 

The Town of Winthrop undergoes an annual leak detection survey to help locate leaks and to reduce unaccounted for water. The survey was completed in October 2023 and identified 2 service leaks. All leaks were promptly repaired. Winthrop enforces the MassDEP mandated cross-connection control program to prevent contamination from entering our distribution system. In 2023, the Department conducted 100 backflow prevention device tests town-wide.

Hydrant Flushing Program: 

The Water Division has continued our 15-phase unidirectional flushing program. This program helps maintain water quality. This program also assures adequate fire protection by exercising gate valves and inspecting and testing hydrants. Two phases of this program were completed in 2023.

Water System Maintenance: 

The DPW Water Division is responsible for operating and maintaining the Pressure Reducing Station, 46 miles of buried water main, a 1 million gallon capacity standpipe, 500 fire hydrants and 4,500 service connections. In 2023 the Water Division repaired five water main breaks and 118 full or partial lead services were relayed with copper, 18 by in-house staff and 100 as part of a MWRA-funded lead service replacement project started in March 2023 and completed in October 2023. The Division also replaced 4 fire hydrants and repaired 3 more. The Town completed the Revere/Crest/Grovers water main replacement project that replaced over 2500 feet of water mains, as well as valves and services in that area.

Reducing Lead In Your Water: 

The DPW is committed to reducing the amount of lead in our water distribution system, and carries out testing for lead and copper as required by MassDEP. While our March 2023 results were below the lead Action Level, during the September 2023 sampling round Winthrop exceeded the lead Action Level with a 90th percentile result of 23 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.

Winthrop DPW took the following steps to address lead in drinking water: 1) Identified the remaining lead services for removal and continued to update our database to account for replaced services; 2) Continued our annual program to remove at least 14% of the remaining lead services; and 3) Committed to making lead line replacement a priority in planning for water main replacement projects. Properties with lead services who wish to participate in the lead removal program are encouraged to call the DPW at 617-846-1341 or email scalla@town.winthrop.ma.us. We urge owners of older homes and buildings to inspect their plumbing and replace fittings that have lead joints or lead solder.

Total Coliform Tests in Community Pipes:

The Winthrop Water Department tests 12 samples twice per month for total coliform bacteria to monitor the distribution system. Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, waterborne pathogens may be present or that a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system. The MassDEP requires that no more than 5% of the samples in a month may be positive. In 2023, Winthrop exceeded this requirement at multiple sample sites in the months of August through December, which required Level 2 Assessments for each. A Level 2 Assessment is a detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system. All assessments, including 4 actions for each, were completed and submitted to DEP for review. We reported to MassDEP that the cause of the exceedances might be temperature related as warmer temperatures resulted in low chlorine residuals. As required, the Water Department continued to institute the town-wide hydrant and main flushing program to eliminate aged water situations and replenish adequate chlorine residuals, verified that valves were open and evaluated sample taps. We are continuing to create a sampling manual for staff.

We truly hope you find this report useful and informative. Please contact the Winthrop Water Department with any questions or to learn about public meetings.

Sincerely,

Steven R. Calla
Public Works Director / Water Superintendent