Wareham Fire District

Water Program Improvements

The Wareham water system undergoes regular inspections by the Massachusetts Division of Environment Protection (MassDEP). These assessments evaluate our technical, financial, and management capabilities to ensure safe water delivery. To maintain optimal water quality, we conducted over 3,700 water quality tests last year. Our system is operated by qualified Boston-certified professionals who oversee daily operations.

Recent system improvements include:

• Transferred service connections on Great Neck Road to the newer 1979 12-inch ductile steel water main, improving flow velocity, water age, taste, and color while reducing disinfectant needs
• Secured $14 million in grant funding and low-interest loans for the new water treatment plant
• Obtained $40,000 from MassDEP for enhanced asset management systems
• Completed inspection of all three distribution tanks per MassDEP guidelines
• Implemented annual Uni-Directional hydrant flushing program district-wide (April-July)
• Enhanced distribution water quality testing for early detection of potential issues
• Cleaned Well #3 and rehabilitated Well #1
• Installed Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) on Well #7
• Replaced aging infrastructure including butterfly valves, check valves, and 25-year-old lime pump drivers
• Enhanced uninterruptable power systems for better storm resilience
• Completed annual hydrant maintenance program

Public Participation Opportunities

Residents interested in discussing water quality issues can attend Board of Water Commissioner meetings, typically held on the first and third Monday evenings at 5:30 pm at the water division office. Please check posting on internet, Town Hall, online calendars, Facebook, or contact the Water Division office for official dates and times.

Educational resources are available through:

• New England Water Works Association (newwa.org)
• American Water Works Association (awwa.org)
• Massachusetts Water Works Association (mwwa.memberclicks.net)
• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep)

Water Source Information

The District's water comes from seven active gravel packed wells within the Plymouth-Carver sole source aquifer. Each well is drilled to a depth of 60-90 feet, located in secluded areas of Maple Springs and Seawood Springs. The Board of Water Commissioners prioritizes protection of these well areas, with District-owned land now totaling nearly 350 acres of permanently protected land.

Water Treatment Process

Our water system employs several treatment methods to ensure safe drinking water:

• Disinfection with sodium hypochlorite to eliminate harmful bacteria
• Chemical treatment with lime to reduce lead and copper levels by neutralizing naturally corrosive water
• Sequestration treatment for iron and manganese using polyphosphates at Well No. 3

All chemicals used meet strict standards set by NSF International or UL (certified by ANSI) and performance requirements established by the American Water Works Association. Water quality is continuously monitored by both the District and MassDEP to evaluate treatment effectiveness. A new water treatment plant is being designed to further reduce iron and manganese levels, with expected completion in 2019.

Source Water Protection

MassDEP has prepared a Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Report for our water supply sources, analyzing public water supplies' vulnerability to contaminants. This report is available on the DEP website.

1. Is Wareham's municipal water safe to drink?
   Wareham's water meets federal safety standards, though testing has identified some contaminants at detectable levels. The annual water quality report provides specific information about these substances.
2. Why does my water sometimes appear discolored?
   Occasional discoloration can result from iron and manganese naturally present in groundwater. The district is working on a new treatment plant to address these minerals.
3. What causes the hardness in Wareham's water?
   Water hardness comes from dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium, naturally present in the groundwater source.
4. How often is Wareham's water tested?
   The district conducts over 3,700 water quality tests annually to ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations.
5. What should I do if I'm concerned about specific contaminants?
   Request a free water score report to identify potential contaminants, then consider appropriate filtration solutions based on those results.