West Springfield Dpw Water Division

Quality First: The DPW Water Division is pleased to present our 2017 annual water quality report. We remain committed to delivering the highest quality municipal water possible to our community. Our focus includes meeting new regulations, ensuring source water protection, promoting conservation, and enhancing community education while meeting the needs of all water users.

We appreciate your trust in us and welcome your thoughts on the information in this report. Well-informed customers are our greatest allies in maintaining water quality.

Water Treatment Process: Our process involves several key steps. First, raw water is drawn from our sources and filtered through granulated activated carbon (GAC). After removing fungicides and nitrogen compounds, we add chlorine as a precautionary measure against remaining bacteria.

Important Health Information: Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. This includes those with compromised immune systems (cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients), elderly individuals, and infants. These people should seek advice from healthcare providers regarding their water consumption. Guidelines from the EPA/CDC on reducing infection risks are available at (800) 426-4791 or http://water.epa.gov/drink/hotline.

Potential Water Contaminants: Massachusetts DEP and US EPA regulations limit contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA and Massachusetts DPH set similar standards for bottled water. All water sources may contain small amounts of certain substances that don't necessarily pose health risks.

Water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals and sometimes radioactive material, and can pick up substances from animal or human activity.

Substances potentially present in source water include:

• Microbial Contaminants from sewage facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, or wildlife
• Inorganic Contaminants including salts and metals, which may occur naturally or result from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and Herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential usage
• Organic Chemical Contaminants including synthetic and volatile compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive Contaminants that can be naturally occurring or result from oil/gas production and mining

Our Water Sources: In 2017, we provided 1,218,376,000 gallons of water to West Springfield. Our water comes primarily from two sources: the Southwick Wells (1,302,016,500 gallons) and purchased water from Springfield Water & Sewer Commission (0 gallons last year). The wells are located in Southwick and draw from the Barnes Aquifer's Great Brook section.

Twelve filtration vessels with 20,500 pounds each of granular activated carbon (GAC) treat our groundwater by removing impurities. Calcium hypochlorite treatment ensures the water is free from coliform bacteria before distribution. The DPW and Mass DEP continuously monitor water quality to evaluate treatment effectiveness and determine if additional measures are needed.

Water Conservation Tips:

• Load dishwashers to full capacity - they use 15 gallons regardless of load size
• Turn off taps while brushing teeth
• Check all household faucets for leaks - even slow drips waste 15-20 gallons daily
• Test toilets for leaks using food coloring in the tank - invisible leaks can waste up to 75 gallons daily
• Use your water meter to detect hidden leaks by checking after all water usage is stopped

Water Main Flushing: This process cleans the interior of water distribution pipes by sending rapid water flow through them. Flushing removes sediments like iron and manganese that can affect taste, clarity, and color. It also prevents microorganism growth and ensures fresh water with adequate oxygen, disinfectant levels, and appropriate taste and odor.

During flushing in your area, temporary water quality issues are possible but rare. If this occurs, run cold water at full velocity for a few moments before use and avoid hot water to prevent sediment accumulation in your hot water tank.

Lead in Home Plumbing: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing components. While we provide high-quality water, we cannot control the materials used in plumbing fixtures. If water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize potential lead exposure by running your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using it for drinking or cooking.

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