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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Quality Report 2009 (PDF)339 King Street Cohasset MA 02025 781-383-0057 www.cohassetwater.org MARCH 31, 2009 WATER QUALITY REPORT The Cohasset Water Department (DEP ID# 3065000), under the direction of the elected Board of Water Commissioners, provides public drinking water to about 2,400 connections for about 7,100 Cohasset residents and provides and maintains a water system for fire fighting. We provide drinking water for almost 90% of the population of Cohasset. This Water Quality Report describes the sources of our drinking water and the quality of that water for the period from January 1 – Dec. 31, 2008. During 2008 we met or exceeded all applicable standards for drinking water quality. 2008 WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS In 2008 the Water Department: u Substantially completed the replacement of 1.97 miles of water mains in the Little Harbor area, in the cooperative project with the Sewer Department. u Replaced 27 fire hydrants and installed 10 new hydrants. Also replaced 20 gate valves and installed 4 new gate valves. u Got Town Meeting approval to place a Conservation Restriction on 313 acres of watershed land surrounding Lily Pond, which will provide long term watershed protection for the water supply. u Continued our on-going Treatment Plant process optimization, which has resulted in major improvements in the removal of manganese from raw water, improving drinking water quality.2009 Water Quality ReportAWARD WINNING RAIN GARDEN PROJECT The Town of Cohasset has been awarded the prestigious PISCES Award by the Environmental Protection Agency for the Water Department’s raingarden project, because of the innovative funding method that was used for the project. This stormwater improvement project utilized funds from s $255,000 Section 319 Grant and the $497,500 in 2% low interest loans from the Clean Water SRF (CWSRF) program. In calendar year 2008 a total of 4 additional rain gardens were constructed. In addition to the completed work, also during this year, 7 other rain gardens were completed with plantings along Route 3A. There are 2 rain gardens being planned for construction in 2009. These proposed gardens, along with those already competed, result in a total of 35 rain gardens along with 2 bioretention swales and the Rte 3A oil/water separator. Preliminary studies show that the raingardens reduce nitrogen by 31%, phosphorous 58% and petroleum hydrocarbons 85%, resulting in cleaner stormwater entering Lily Pond, the source of our water supply, from stormwater runoff where the raingardens are located. Photos from top to bottom: Bound Brook at Aaron River Reservoir, Aaron River Reservoir,Looking across Lily Pond to the Water Treatment Plant, and the Aaron River Reservoir Dan COHASSET BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS Glenn A. Pratt, Chairman Nathaniel Palmer, Vice-Chairman John K. McNabb, Jr., Clerk 2008 COHASSET WATER QUALITY RESULTS The Cohasset Water Department tests for over 80 contaminants on a regular basis, in accordance with State and Federal requirements. The following contaminants were the only ones detected in the most recent testing required. REGULATED CONTAMINANTS Date(s) Collected Highest Detect Range Detected Highest Average MCL or MRDL MCLG or MRDLG Viola- tion? (Y/N) Possible Source(s) of Contamination INORGANIC Fluoride (ppm) Daily, 2008 1.4 0.0 - 1.40 ----4 4 No Additive to water to promote strong teeth Nitrate (ppm)4/10/2008 0.10 --------10 10 No Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits Chlorine (ppm)Daily, 2008 2.01 .31 - 2.01 ----4 4 No Water additive used to protect public health by controlling microbes Barium (ppm)4/10/2008 0.014 --------2 2 No Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits VOLATILE ORGANIC Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) (ppb) Quarterly 2008 100 44 - 100 69.8 80 -----No Byproduct of drinking water chlorination Haloacetic Acids (HAA5’s) (ppb) Quarterly 2008 49.0 ND - 47 24.0 60 -----No Byproduct of drinking water chlorination RADIOACTIVE Gross Alpha (pCi/l)2/17/04 -1.3+/- 1.0 --------15 0 No Erosion of natural deposits Gross Beta (pCi/L) 2/17/04 2.9+/-2.2 --------50 0 No Decay of natural and man-made deposits Radium 226 2/17/04 0.3+/-0.2 --------0.1 0 No Erosion of natural deposits Radium 228 2/17/04 1.0+/-0.8 --------0.5 0 No Erosion of natural deposits SYNTHETIC ORGANIC Simazine (ppb)3/23/06 0.1 --------4 4 No Herbicide runoff Hexachlorocyclo- pentadiene (ppb) 6/3/03 0.1 -------- 50 50 No Discharge from chemical factories LEAD & COPPER (2) (40 sites every 6 months) Date(s) Collected 90th Percentile Action Level MCLG # sites above AL Viola- tion? Possible Sources of Contamination Lead (ppb)November 13 15 0 4 of 40 No Corrosion of household plumbing systems Copper (ppm)November .328 1.3 1.3 0 of 40 No Corrosion of household plumbing systems; leaching from wood preservatives TURBIDITY TT Lowest Monthly % of Samples Highest Detected Daily Value Violation?Possible Sources of Contamination Daily Compliance (NTU)0.3 ----0.27 No Soil Runoff Monthly Compliance At least 95%100%----No Soil Runoff Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality. * Monthly turbidity compliance is related to a specific treatment technique (TT). Our system filters the water so at least 95% of our samples each month must be below the turbidity limits specified in the regulations. UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS (1) INORGANIC Date(s) Collected Results Average Detected SMCL ORSG Violation?Possible Sources of Contamination Sodium (ppm)4/10/2008 29.8 --------20 No Runoff from use of salt on roadways to protect public safety Sulfate (ppm)4/12/2007 8.1 ----250 ----No Natural sources (1)Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining their occurrence in drinking water and whether further regulation is warranted. Exceeding a SMCL or ORSG for an unregulated contaminant is not a violation. VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WARNING Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropri- ate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791). EDUCATIONAL STATEMENT CONCERNING LEAD Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home’s plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home’s water, you may wish to have your water tested. Flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2-minutes before using tap water to reduce lead content. Additional information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 1-800-426-4791. DEFINITIONS 90th Percentile 9/10 were at or below this level pCi/L Picocuries per liter (radioactivity) ppb parts per billion, micrograms per liter (ug/l) ppm parts per million, milligrams per liter (mg/l) AL (Action Level) The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which must be followed. MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) Highest level of contami nant allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal) The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for margin of safety. MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level) The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. Disinfection is neces- sary to control microbiological contamination. MRDLG (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal) Level of drinking water disinfectant which there is no known or expected risk to health; do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbiological contaminants. NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) Measure of how clear the water is. ORSG Mass Office of Research and Standards Guideline Concen- tration of a chemical in drinking water, at or below which, adverse health effects are unlikely to occur after chronic (lifetime) exposure. LEAD EXCEEDANCE OF ACTION LEVELS The Cohasset Water Department performed its required sampling for Lead and Copper in June and November of 2008. This sampling consisted of taking samples from 40 different residential homes and 4 different schools located in Cohasset. While lead is not present in the raw water or in the treated water after it leaves the Lily Pond Treatment Plan, lead can leach into tap water in some situations from older lead services, lead solder in service connections, or even from brass fixtures (some of which contain lead). These sites were selected by the Water Department and approved by DEP in compliance with the regulatory criteria which is based on when the home was constructed and the type of material used in installing the service line to the home. The results of these tests were an improvement overall from last year. The Department did not have an exceedence of the 90th percentile Action Level for lead during the November testing period. This means that only 4 out of the 40 residential sites samples had over 15 parts per billion (ppb) of lead. However, the department did have an exceedence of the 90th percentile in June of 2008. This means that 5 out of the 40 residential sites samples had over 15 parts per billion (ppb) of lead. While this is not a violation, the DEP requires the Water Department, following an exceedence such as this one, to provide public education and public notice about lead in the drinking water and to conduct additional testing. The Water Department provided the required public notice brochures which were mailed to each customer’s home in July. Public education brochures were placed in all of the public buildings in Cohasset and were made available to every customer. The Department has gone beyond the requirements and also offered to test any customers water, for free, for lead content in an effort to help identify the homes in town that have lead services or brass fixtures that could be contaminating the water. During this free testing period, a total of 64 customers requested the free tests, and of them only 6 homes exceeded the ‘Action Level’. These tests were done in February 2008. The Water Department is also conducting additional non-regulatory testing for lead and is developing a comprehensive program to locate and eliminate all lead services and fittings in the distribution system. DEFINITIONS Continued SMCL Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level These standards protect the aesthetic qualities of drinking water and are not health based. TT (Treatment Technique) - 95% of all monthly samples taken must be less than/equal to 0.50 NTU Variances & Exemptions State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions. HI NGHAMCOHASSETCOHASSETSCITUATENORWELLSCITUATEDoane Str e e t Beechwood StreetK i n g S tr e e t Route 3A BrookPeppermint Aaron RiverHerringBr ook Aaro n RiverWompatuck State Park C O H A S S E T H I N G H A M Avalon Development at Norfolk Conveyor Sohier StreetSohier Street Wellfield Little Harbor Sanctuary Pond Bunker Area Lily Pond Aaron River Reservoir Bound Brook Pond Holly Pond BrookB ro ok B o und Cohasset Heights Landfill Mass Highway Department Hingham Annex Former Beechwood Dump Deer Hill School Depot Court (underground petroleum release) South Main & Spring Street (underground petroleum release) Bear Hill Water Tank Bound Brook Control Structure R o ut e 3 A Route 3A J a m e s Brook Kettle Brass Forest AvenueJerusalem R o a d Massachusetts Bay Straits Pond Cohasset Harbor Elms Meadow WellfieldScituate Hill Water Tank Library Cohasset High School Aaron River Dam This area of Cohasset is served by the Aquarion Water Company of Massachusetts. For a copy of their Water Quality Report, contact them at (800)832-2373 or go to http://aquarion.com/MAwaterquality.html Massachusetts BayHULL HINGHAM Use Environmentally Friendly Lawn Care. For more information, contact the Greenscapes Program at the North and South Rivers Watershed Association (781)659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org North Main Street Town Hall Police and FireJerusalem RoadN ich ols R o a dAtlantic Avenue (abandoned) Arrowwood Subdivision and Septic Systems HINGHAM COHASSET NORWELL SCITUATE 1,500 0 1,500 3,000750Feet GRAPHIC SCALE (in feet) Massachusetts State Plane Coordinate System -- NAD 1983 Where Your Drinking Water Comes From Inspect your septic system every1-3 years to make sure it is working properly. Pump out your septic tank as necessary, but at least once every 5 years. Recycle used motor oil by bringing it to the Cohasset Recycling Transfer Facility or to the store where you bought it. NEVER pour used motor oil on the ground or down the drain! Dispose of household hazardous waste properly at the next Household Hazardous Waste Day. NEVER pour hazardous materials down the drain, on the ground, street, or storm drains. Call the Board of Health at 383-4116 or visit www.ssrc.info to find out when the next HHW day is. NEVER dump grass and yard waste into storm drains. Grass clippings and yard waste contain nutrients that can promote weed growth. Reduce the use of fertilizers and herbicides on your lawn. Use only slow-release fertilizers. Have your soil tested to determine how much fertilizer to apply. Water fertilisers in witha hose and do not apply before a rainfall. Visit www.nswra.org for more information. Clean your car at a car wash instead of in your driveway. This willprevent any soaps, polishes, waxes and other chemicals from draininginto storm drains and into the water supply. Use water wisely. Avoid over-watering your lawn. Watch out for any activities that might contaminate the water supply, and report any suspected contamination to the Water Department (383-0057). the Board of Health (383-4116), or the Fire Department (383-0260) Regularly monitors water quality in tap water and in the surface waterand groundwater of the watershed. Keeps track of known potential sources of contamination within the watershed and takes action to clean them up. Reviews all proposed developments in the watershed. Acquires land in the watershed to protect it from development. Proposes changes in bylaws & zoning to protect water quality. Is in the process of implementing the recommendations of the Water Commission's 2002 Surface Water Supply Protection Plan and the Source Water Assessment Program report. 2. 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. What the Water Department is Doing to Protect Our Water Supply 8 Things YOU Can Do To Protect Your Water Supply Watershed Locator MapWatershed Locator Map LEGEND Watershed Area Zone II Area Surface Water Source Lily Pond, Aaron River Reservoir Public Water Supply Wells Water Source Tributaries Zone A Surface Water Supply Protection Area 400' from Surface Water Supply, 200' from Tributaries Zone B Surface Water Supply Protection Area 1/2 Mile from Surface Water Supply Potential Threats to Watershed Quality Water Commission Stream Gauging Locations Water Commission Surface Water Sampling Locations Water Commission Monitoring Wells in Groundwater and in Bedrock Fractures Town Boundary The Sources of the Cohasset Water Department's Public Drinking Water Supply Your drinking water comes from the watershed for Lily Pond and the Aaron River Reservoir and the Zone of Contribution for the Elms Meadow wellfield as shown on this map. The watershed comprises approximately 2,313 acres in Cohasset with an additional 3,690 acres located in Hingham, Norwell, and Scituate. The wellfields' Zone of Contribution includes an additional 954 acres. The Cohasset Water Department serves all of Cohasset except for approximately 300 homes in North Cohasset that are served by the Aquarion Water Co. of Massachusetts or by private wells. Cohasset Raingarden ProjectLow Impact Development Installed Locations for the Rain Gardens NOTE: Locations are approximate Sohier Street & Elms Meadow Wellfields' Zone of Contribution Consumer Confidence Report Map -- 2009 Date: March 31, 2009 COHASSET BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS GLENN A. PRATT, CHAIRMAN NATHANIEL PALMER, VICE CHAIRMAN JOHN K. MCNABB, JR., CLERK Funded by Water Revenue, the Federal/State c. 319 Grant Program, and the Clean Water SRF Program CONTACT INFORMATION: Cohasset Water Department 339 King Street Cohasset, MA 02025 ph: (781) 383-0057 fax:(781) 383-2906 Land Acquired Prior to 2000 Watershed Land Protection Program Area approved for Conservation Restriction by vote of the November, 2008 Special Town Meeting Total - 313 acres; including 191 acres acquired 2002-2008 by the Water Department Lily Pond Water Treatment Plant Where YOUr DrINKING Water COmes FrOm The Cohasset Water Department drinking water comes from two surface wa- ter supplies, Lily Pond (DEP ID# 065-01S), and the Aaron River Reservoir (DEP ID# 065-02S). Lily Pond has a maximum capacity of about 100 million gallons of water and is 52 acres in size. The 136 acre Aaron River Reservoir, which can hold a maximum of 550 million gallons of water, is used to supplement Lily Pond in times of high water demand. The watershed for Lily Pond and the Reservoir covers an area of 5,892 acres, 9.21 square miles. Only 2,339 acres (or 40%) is in Cohasset. The safe yield of our surface water supplies is 5.2 million gallons per day (gpd). Our average daily demand is about 800,000 gallons per day, and the maximum daily demand, in the summer, is 2.2 million gpd. Projections show that our existing water supply will be capable of meeting projected water system demands for the next 20 years or more. The Water Department has two well fields. The Ellms Meadow Well field (ID# 065- 02G), which has been reactivated and approved for up to 170,000 gallons per day. The well field was reactivated in 2007. The Sohier Street Wells (ID# 065-01G & 03G) have been abandoned due to their close proximity to the Greenbush Right of Way, but the Water Commision is actively seeking a new location for a replacement wellfield. sWaP rePOrt ON COhasset The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has prepared a Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Report for the water supply sources serving the Cohasset Water Department. The SWAP Report notes that the key issues for water supply protection are: n protection of Zone A n protecting the watershed outside Cohasset n public education n control of residential uses that might contaminate the watershed The report commends the water system for mapping storm drains, conducting a study on the health of Lily Pond, and taking preliminary steps to develop a lawn care program. The Water Commission plans to address the protection recommendations by implementing all the SWAP recommendations and by implementing our Surface Water Supply Protection Plan that was completed and approved by DEP in 2002. The complete SWAP report is available at the Water Department and on our website, www.cohassetwater.org. For more information, call the Water Department at 781-383-0057. CONtamINaNts IN DrINKING Water Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791). The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: n Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. n Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. n Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses. n Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. n Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the DEP and EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. www.cohassetwater.org A study by the Trust for Public Land and the American Water Works Association found the more forest cover, i.e., undeveloped land, in a watershed, the lower the water treatment costs. Cohasset Water Department 339 King Street Cohasset MA 02025 PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 47 COHASSET, MA POSTAL PATRON COHASSET, MA 02025 This report is available at the Water Department, Town Hall, the Paul Pratt Memorial Library, and on our website: www.cohassetwater.org www.cohassetwater.org LOOK inside at the Watershed Map to find out why 313 acres are outlined in red! COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT We encourage public interest and participation in decisions affecting Cohasset’s drinking water. The Water Commission usually meets every other week at 6:00 pm at the Lily Pond Water Treatment Plant, 339 King Street. Meeting notices are posted at Town Hall. Feel free to attend and to participate. CONTACT US Please call Superintendant Jared Hill at the Water Department at 781-383-0057 (fax 781-383-2906) with any questions or concerns. For more information about the Water Department visit our website: www.cohassetwater.org ' This report is printed on 100% recycled paper using soy inks.