Hecla Water Association-Plant PWS

What are the contamination sources affecting municipal water? Municipal water (both tap and bottled) comes from rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water moves across land surfaces or through soil layers, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals, sometimes radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activities.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants including salts and metals that occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile compounds, which are industrial process byproducts and petroleum production, potentially coming from gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that may be naturally occurring or result from oil/gas production and mining

The USEPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA sets similar limits for bottled water, both aiming to protect public health. Municipal water, including bottled varieties, reasonably may contain small amounts of certain contaminants, though their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the Federal Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Where does my water come from?

The Norwell Water Department supplies water to the community from ten groundwater wells distributed across three main locations:

1. South Street Well Field: Includes Wells 1 and 6, located near Third Herring Brook. This water undergoes filtration at the South Street Treatment Plant to remove excessive iron, manganese, and natural color that would otherwise stain laundry and plumbing fixtures, discolor water, and potentially cause unpleasant odors and tastes. The South Street Treatment Plant began operation in July 1996. Additional treatment includes chlorine disinfection to prevent waterborne disease and potassium hydroxide for pH adjustment.
2. Grove Street Well Field: Located approximately half a mile east of Grove and Washington Streets intersection, containing Wells 2, 3, 5, and 10. Treatment here includes pH adjustment with potassium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite disinfection, implemented since January 1997.
3. Washington Street Well Field: Features Wells 4, 7, and 8, situated north of Hall Drive. Treatment mirrors Grove Street with potassium hydroxide for pH adjustment and sodium hypochlorite disinfection, in place since April 1997.

The system also includes Well 9, a low-yield source off Bowker Street used occasionally due to limited production capacity and elevated iron levels. Water from this well receives sodium hypochlorite disinfection before entering the distribution system.

The Department maintains two 500,000-gallon steel water storage tanks at Paradise Drive and Judges Hill Drive, plus a 1,000,000-gallon steel storage tank in Assinippi Industrial Park off Phillips Drive. This larger tank includes a Booster Pumping Station designed to provide additional water volume and pressure throughout the distribution system.