Sudbury Water District

WHO DO I CONTACT WITH CONCERNS ABOUT MY LOCAL TAP WATER?

Sudbury Water District employs 5 dedicated field staff and 3 office personnel committed to delivering premium quality water to your home. Staff are available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to address public supply needs and concerns.

Questions about your water quality? Contact us at 978-443-6602 during regular business hours or visit www.sudburywater.com for:

• Latest water quality test results
• Frequently asked questions
• Rate and fee information
• Online bill payment options
• Email subscription registration

Superintendent Rebecca McEnroe is available during business hours. To schedule a meeting, contact our office or email rmcenroe@sudburywater.com directly.

For after-hours emergencies, the District maintains an on-call technician year-round. Simply contact the Department of Public Safety at (978) 443-1042 to have a water technician dispatched to address your concern.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES

The Board of Water Commissioners meets bi-weekly at 5 p.m. at the District office (199 Raymond Road) to discuss water supply matters. These public forums provide opportunities to learn about your water supply and raise concerns directly with Commissioners and the Superintendent. Contact the Water District office at 978-443-6602 for upcoming meeting dates.

SUBSTANCES FOUND IN MUNICIPAL WATER

Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials. It can also absorb substances from animal or human activities.

Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants including salts and metals (natural or from urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, farming)
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential use
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants occurring naturally or resulting from energy production and mining activities

ENSURING SAFE TAP WATER

To ensure safety, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and EPA establish regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. FDA and Massachusetts Department of Public Health set similar limits for bottled water.

All water, including bottled varieties, may contain trace amounts of contaminants, which doesn't necessarily indicate health risks. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Certain populations may be more vulnerable to contaminants, including immunocompromised individuals (cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or immune disorders), some elderly, and some infants. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers about drinking water safety. Guidelines from EPA and CDC on reducing cryptosporidium infection risk are available at (800) 426-4791.

REDUCING LEAD EXPOSURE

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead in water primarily comes from materials in residential plumbing. While Sudbury Water District provides high-quality water, we cannot control materials used in home 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 steps to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

PREVENTING BACKFLOW CONTAMINATION

A cross connection occurs when drinking water pipes connect to a contaminated source. For example, when connecting a hose to a fertilizer sprayer, a pressure drop (such as from fire hydrant use) could suck fertilizer back into drinking water pipes.

Sudbury Water District recommends installing backflow prevention devices, like inexpensive hose bib vacuum breakers, on all indoor and outdoor hose connections. These are available at hardware and plumbing supply stores and help protect your home's water and the municipal water system.

Did you know we inspect and test over 300 backflow prevention devices annually in Sudbury? Our inspections include schools, businesses, municipal buildings, and homes. For more information about back-siphonage concerns, visit http://www.watts.com/pages/learnAbout/usc_study.asp?CatId=1160.

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