Milford Water Company

We're proud to present our annual water quality report covering testing conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2017. At Milford Water Company, our commitment to delivering exceptional-quality municipal water remains our top priority. We continuously work to meet evolving regulations, protect our water sources, promote conservation, and engage with our community while fulfilling the needs of all residents.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you. We welcome your thoughts about the information in this report—informed customers are our greatest allies. Our staff is always available to address any questions or concerns.

Water Sources and Distribution
Milford Water Company draws water from five distinct sources. Our Dilla Street facility treats water from the Charles River, Echo Lake reservoir, Dilla Road wells, and Clark's Island wells. We also maintain a Depot Road facility that processes water from five wells along Godfrey Brook. These wells are situated in sand-and-gravel aquifers at depths between 22-52 feet. Due to their relatively shallow nature, protecting these sources from contamination is crucial.

Our distribution network encompasses over 100 miles of piping, three water storage facilities, and three pumping stations delivering approximately 1 billion gallons annually. Since no single source can independently meet customer demand, we utilize all sources throughout the year, often blending water before treatment and during distribution. We maintain emergency connections with Bellingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, and Medway for short-term assistance when needed.

Health Information
Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general public. People with compromised immune systems (those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, elderly individuals, and infants) may face increased infection risks. These individuals should consult healthcare providers about their water consumption. Guidelines from the EPA/CDC on reducing Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminant risks are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or http://water.EPA.gov/drink/hotline.

Understanding Water Contaminants
To ensure tap water safety, MassDEP and the EPA establish regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA and Massachusetts DPH set similar limits for bottled water. All water sources (tap and bottled) naturally contain some contaminants, which doesn't necessarily indicate health risks.

Water from rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells picks up substances as it travels over land or underground. These may include:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, or wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals occurring naturally or from urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, stormwater runoff, or residential usage
• Organic chemicals from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, or septic systems
• Radioactive materials occurring naturally or resulting from energy production and mining

For more contaminant information, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Community Involvement
We welcome your input about your water service, customer support, and ongoing projects. Our office operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Board of Directors meets quarterly (April, July, October, January) at our Dilla Street office, where management addresses all customer concerns.

Lead in Home Plumbing
Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead primarily enters water through materials in service lines and home plumbing fixtures. While we provide high-quality water, we can't control the materials used in plumbing components. When water sits unused for several hours, minimize potential lead exposure by running your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned, consider water testing. Information about lead in water, testing methods, and reduction strategies is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or www.epa.gov/lead.

Professional Water Treatment
Delivering quality water involves complex processes beyond simply moving water through pipes. Our licensed operators undergo extensive training in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics. Their daily responsibilities include equipment operation and maintenance, monitoring systems, conducting tests, maintaining proper water chemistry, analyzing data, documenting operations for regulatory compliance, and serving the community through education and outreach.

Cross-Connection Safety
Cross-connections that contaminate water lines are a serious concern. These occur when drinking water lines connect to equipment (boilers), chemical-containing systems (air conditioning, fire sprinklers, irrigation), or questionable water sources. Contamination happens when pressure in equipment exceeds water line pressure (backpressure) or when water line pressure drops.

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