Holden Water Division, DPW

Water from Holden's municipal wells is treated with Potassium Hydroxide for pH adjustment and Sodium Fluoride for dental health benefits. The natural groundwater in our area has a low pH, making it slightly acidic and potentially corrosive. Potassium Hydroxide treatment raises the pH to just above neutral (7.0), reducing acidity and corrosiveness. Sodium Fluoride provides cavity protection, particularly for children.

Water purchased from Worcester undergoes treatment at their Water Purification Plant. For more details about Worcester's water sources and treatment processes, visit the Holden Department of Public Works Office at Town Hall, where we maintain copies of Worcester's Water Quality Reports. Worcester also publishes these reports on their website.

One key difference with Worcester's water is their use of chlorination, so residents in Holden's higher service area may occasionally receive chlorinated water. Since Worcester doesn't add fluoride, Holden adds Sodium Fluoride at both municipal interconnections to maintain consistent dental health benefits.

Water quality throughout our system is continuously monitored by both the Holden Water & Sewer Division and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to evaluate treatment effectiveness and determine if additional treatment measures are needed.

How Are These Sources Protected?

The DEP has completed a Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) Report for Holden's water supply sources. Based on collected information, the Spring Street Well received a "high" susceptibility rating, while our three other wells received "moderate" susceptibility ratings. The complete SWAP report is available at Town Hall or online at HTTP://www.mass.gov/EEA/docs/dep/water/drinking/swap/cero/2134000.pdf. For additional information, please call the Water & Sewer Department at (508) 210-5550.

All drinking water sources (both tap and bottled water) come from rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal or human activities.

Potential Contaminants in Source Water:

• Microbial contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
• Inorganic contaminants: Salts and metals occurring naturally or from urban stormwater runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, and farming.
• Pesticides and herbicides: From agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
• Organic chemical contaminants: Synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants: Naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining activities.

To ensure safe drinking water, the DEP and EPA establish regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. The FDA and Massachusetts DPH also set limits for bottled water to provide similar protection. All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least trace amounts of some contaminants, which doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general public. Immunocompromised individuals (such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders), some elderly, and infants may face increased infection risks. These individuals should consult healthcare providers about drinking water safety. Guidelines for reducing Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminant risks are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water primarily comes from materials and components in service lines and home plumbing. While the Water & Sewer Division is responsible for providing high-quality water, we cannot control materials used in household plumbing. When water sits unused for several hours, minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned about lead, consider having your water tested. Information about lead in drinking water, testing methods, and exposure reduction is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at HTTP://www.EPA.gov/safewater/lead.

Coliform bacteria naturally present in the environment serve as indicators that other, potentially harmful waterborne pathogens might be present or that contamination pathways exist in the distribution system. The Holden Water & Sewer Department monitors for total coliform by collecting at least 38 samples monthly from DEP-approved locations throughout town to ensure tested water represents what flows from consumers' taps. In 2017, 485 samples were collected and analyzed for Total Coliform.

Since April 1, 2016, new regulations have changed compliance requirements to focus on E. coli-positive samples and treatment technique violations requiring sanitary assessments. We still monitor for Total Coliform bacteria, and all coliform-positive samples are analyzed for E. coli. In 2017, NO Total Coliform, NO Fecal Coliform, and NO E. coli were detected in Holden's water distribution system, and no sanitary assessments were required.

We encourage customers to conserve water both to save money and to protect our limited natural resources. If you have an irrigation system that operates during rainy days, consider installing a rain sensor to prevent unnecessary water usage.

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