Lynn Water and Sewer Commission

The Quality of Your Municipal Water

The Lynn Water & Sewer Commission is proud to present this Annual Report on Lynn's water quality. This report contains analysis results from water tested throughout 2016 and essential information about your municipal water supply. The Commission maintains an extensive testing and monitoring program detailed in this document.

Testing confirms that Lynn's water fully complies with all standards established by Federal and State regulatory agencies. We're pleased to announce that the Commission received the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Water Award for Exceptional Consistent Performance for 2016.

The Commission has complete confidence in the water delivered to Lynn residents. Please review this important report and contact us with any questions or feedback about the report or your water quality.

Important Information from EPA and DEP

To ensure tap water safety, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) prescribe regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA and Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations establish similar limits for bottled water, providing equal public health protection.

Municipal Water and Vulnerable Populations

Some individuals may be more susceptible to water contaminants than the general population. People with compromised immune systems—including those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, individuals with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders, some elderly, and infants—may face increased infection risks. These individuals should seek water consumption advice from healthcare providers. Guidelines from EPA and CDC on reducing infection risks from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Understanding Contaminants in Water

All water sources, including bottled water, naturally contain at least minimal amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or the DEP Drinking Water Program (1-617-292-5770). General water quality information is available at www.epa.gov/safewater.

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

Potential contaminant sources include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, occurring naturally or from urban runoff, industrial/domestic wastewater, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, stormwater runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants, occurring naturally or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

Water Testing Protocols

Water quality testing by Lynn Water & Sewer Commission occurs daily at the Raymond F. Reardon Water Treatment Plant and weekly at over 20 distribution system locations. Quality testing is conducted both internally and by independent state-certified laboratories.

Lead in Water: Important Information

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water primarily comes from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. While Lynn Water & Sewer Commission provides high-quality drinking water, we cannot control materials used in plumbing components. When water sits unused for several hours, you can 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 on lead in water, testing methods, and exposure reduction steps is available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Cross Connection Control Information

A cross connection occurs when a potable (safe to drink) water line connects directly or indirectly to non-potable equipment in your home or business, such as irrigation systems, fire sprinklers, or boilers. Unprotected cross connections on your property could contaminate drinking water in your home and neighboring properties. Serious illnesses and even deaths have resulted from preventable cross-contamination events. For more information, contact DEP's Division of Water Supply at 617-292-5770 or Lynn Water & Sewer Commission's Engineering Division at 781-596-2400.

Water Treatment Process

The Lynn Water & Sewer Commission operates a direct filtration water treatment plant that purifies your water using chemicals and filtration to remove contaminants and organisms that could cause unpleasant tastes, odors, or health concerns. The process includes:

• Chemical addition: Alum is added in specific doses to make small particles stick together and settle for removal
• Filtration: The treated water flows through filter beds composed of multiple layers including activated carbon, sand, and gravel that capture particles

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