Longmeadow Water Department

Water Quality Information for Residents

To ensure tap water safety, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establish regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. Similarly, FDA and MA Department of Public Health set standards for bottled water products. All water sources, including bottled options, may contain trace amounts of some contaminants, though this doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

Water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals (sometimes including radioactive materials) and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity.

Potential contaminants in source water include:

• Microbial Contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, or wildlife
• Inorganic Contaminants: Salts and metals occurring naturally or resulting from urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and Herbicides: From agricultural activities, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic Chemical Contaminants: Synthetic and volatile organic compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive Contaminants: Naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining operations

Annual Water Quality Report
We're pleased to present our annual municipal water report covering all testing performed between January 1 and December 31, 2017. Over the years, we've maintained our commitment to producing water that meets all state and federal standards. We continually adopt new methods to deliver the highest quality water to homes and businesses while addressing emerging challenges to water safety.

Water Source Information
Longmeadow purchases 100% of its water from the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission. This water originates from surface sources in Blandford and Granville, Massachusetts, specifically from Cobble Hill Reservoir and Borden Brook Reservoir.

Important Health Information
Immunocompromised individuals, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, elderly residents, and infants may be particularly vulnerable to certain waterborne contaminants. These residents should consult healthcare providers about water consumption guidelines. For CDC guidelines on reducing infection risks from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants, visit http://water.epa.gov/drink/hotline or call (800) 426-4791.

Community Water Fluoridation Benefits
For over 70 years, fluoridated water has improved oral health in the U.S., reducing tooth decay by approximately 25% in children and adults. Despite significant dental health improvements, tooth decay remains among the most common childhood chronic diseases. Community water fluoridation represents a cost-effective method of delivering fluoride benefits to all community members regardless of socioeconomic factors.

Cross-Connection Contamination Prevention
Cross-connections between drinking water lines and equipment containing chemicals or questionable water sources pose a serious contamination risk. Contamination can occur through backpressure (when equipment pressure exceeds water line pressure) or backsiphonage (when water line pressure drops due to main breaks or high demand).

Garden hoses and outdoor taps frequently cause cross-connection contamination in homes, especially when hoses contact swimming pools or chemical sprayers. Improperly installed bathroom valves may also create cross-connection hazards. The water department regularly surveys facilities to identify and protect against potential cross-connections with appropriate backflow prevention devices.

Water Treatment Process
Reservoir water flows to the West Parish Filters Treatment Plant in Westfield, Massachusetts, where it undergoes slow and rapid sand filtration, corrosion control treatment, pH adjustment, and disinfection before moving to the 42-million-gallon underground storage facility at Provin Mountain Reservoir in Agawam, Massachusetts.

Water Conservation Tips
Residents can contribute to water conservation while reducing costs by monitoring household usage and implementing simple changes:

• Run dishwashers only when fully loaded
• Turn off taps while brushing teeth
• Check all household fixtures for leaks—even slow drips waste 15-20 gallons daily

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