ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT
For the Year 2003

As a service to our customers, the Dedham-Westwood Water District (PWS ID #3073000) and American Water Services, Inc. are proud to distribute our Annual Water Quality Report.  This report is designed to inform you about your drinking water quality and the services we deliver to you every day.  It is a continuous commitment on our part to provide the highest quality water and service that meets and exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards and regulations.

American Water Services, Inc., the District's management company, has combined resources that include 8,000 experienced management and highly skilled technical water and wastewater utility personnel, serving over 20 million people. It dedicates itself to maintaining and improving the highest integrity of drinking water delivered to our community.

Thank you for allowing us to continue providing your family with high water quality this year.  In our continuing efforts to maintain a safe and dependable water supply, it will be necessary to continuously improve your water system.  The costs of these improvements may be reflected in the rate structure.  Rate adjustments are necessary in order to address these improvements.

We ask that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are at the heart of our community, our way of life and our children's future.  Important educational information on resource protection, conservation, and other current issues is included in the District's newsletter mailed with all bills.

If you have any questions about this report of concerning your water utility, please contact Nan Crossland or Robert Eiben at the Dedham-Westwood Water District, 50 Elm Street, Dedham, Massachusetts 02027-9137 at (781) 329-7090.  If you want to learn more, you are encouraged to attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings, usually held the second and last Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at our main office located at 50 Elm Street, Dedham, MA.  All meetings are posted at your town hall for exact dates and times.  Updated information can be found on the District's web site at www.dwwd.org.  We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility.

We hope that this report provides answers to questions most frequently asked by our 12,874 customers.

District's Elm Street Office

DISTRICT IMPROVEMENTS

The nearly one million dollar project to return capacity to the Bridge Street wellfield with replacement and satellite wells was completed in December. Similar upgrades to the White Lodge wellfield are under study. The District began the membership application process for joining the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to supplement the District's own groundwater supplies in times of stress on existing supplies. In conjunction with this, a new 12,200 foot twelve inch water main in Westwood is under design. The update of the long range plan to identify and prioritize capital improvements necessary in the next several years was complete. A pilot program to install 500 radio read meters was begun. Over 350 of these meters have been installed and the District plans a phase in program for all customers over the few years. Several improvements were made to insure increased security at district sites.                                                            Conservation - Sale of rain barrels.

HOW IS THE PURITY OF MY WATER ENSURED?

Dedham-Westwood Water District routinely monitors for components in your drinking water according to Federal and State Laws.  The enclosed table shows the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2003.  All drinking water including bottled water may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contamination.  It is important to remember that the presence of these contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk.  More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF DEDHAM-WESTWOOD WATER?

The source of your drinking water is groundwater from 15 production wells.  Other facilities include 2 water treatment plants, 4 water storage tanks, 6 pressure booster systems and approximately 195 miles of water main.  We serve a population of about 38,000 through approximately 12,900 meters and customer service lines.  The Dedham-Westwood Water District has emergency water connections with the City of Boston and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

HOW DOES DEDHAM-WESTWOOD MONITOR THE QUALITY OF MY WATER?

As water travels over the surface of the land, or through the ground, it can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or humans.  The filtration and purification processes at our treatment plants are designed to remove harmful materials and ensure that your water meets or surpasses all drinking water standards.  Skilled treatment plant operators monitor your water at the source, test throughout the treatment process, and continue testing as the water flows through your local distribution system.

Education - National Theatre for Children

Substances that may be present in wells, lakes, reservoirs, and other untreated sources include:

• Inorganic substances, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

• Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards.  The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining their occurrence in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted.

• Turbidity, a naturally occurring sediment in the water, which can interfere with the disinfection process.

• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, that are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.

• Pesticides and herbicides, that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

WHAT DO THESE TERMS MEAN?

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.  MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.  MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

PPM (parts per million): 1 drop in 10 gallons, 1 inch in 16 miles, or one penny in $10,000.

PPB (parts pet billion): 1 drop in 10,000 gallons, 1 inch in 16,000 miles, or one penny in $10,000,000.

ND: Not detected.

NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units, a measure of how much turbidity (suspended matter) is present in the water.

90th Percentile: Out of every 10 homes, 9 were at or below this level.

Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements, which a water system must follow.

Simply click on the links below to view the tables:

• Regulated Contaminants - Inorganic Chemicals
• Unregulated Contaminants - Inorganic Chemicals
• Regulated Contaminants - Organic Chemicals
• Radioactive Contaminants
• Regulated Contaminants - Measured at the Customer's Tap in 2001

As shown by the above tables, the water quality results showed no violations.  We are proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds these Federal and State requirements.

A complete listing of the latest sample results is available for review at our service center at 50 Elm Street, Dedham, MA.

IS WATER THAT MEETS FEDERAL DRINKING WATER STANDARDS ABSOLUTELY SAFE?

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.  Immuno-comprised persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from infections.  These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.  EPA/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

RESOURCE PROTECTION

All Water District groundwater supply areas are protected by resource protection zoning by-laws restricting activities and uses within those boundaries.  The Department of Environmental Protection wellhead protection grant study determined that the level of sodium in the water supply from runoff in the area of Route 128 Railroad Station and the intersection of routes I95 and 128 is increasing. The District has asked the Mass. Highway Department to consider sodium alternatives and more careful monitoring of sodium use on highways near our water supply.

HOW ARE OUR SOURCES PROTECTED?

The Department of Environmental Protection has prepared a Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) report for the water supply in sources serving our water system. The SWAP report notes the following as key issues: activities in the Zone I (400 foot radius around wells); hazardous materials storage and use; residential land uses; transportation corridors; hazardous materials contamination sites; and comprehensive wellhead protection planning. The report commends the District on actively enforcing wellhead protection controls; providing wellhead protection information through newsletters, the website, and with water audit kits; requiring variable depth monitoring wells for new businesses near the White Lodge wells; receiving a DEP source protection grant for road salt monitoring along routes 128 and I-95; participation in educational programs on environmentally sound lawn care, conservation, and source protection; and participating in regional efforts to evaluate and enhance resources in the area. 

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE PROTECTION?

The SWAP report recommends inspection of Zone I areas regularly, and when feasible to remove non-water supply related activities; educating residents on ways they can help to protect drinking water sources (i.e. proper management of septic systems), partnering with local businesses to ensure proper storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials; and working with emergency response teams to identify sensitive areas in case of a spill. 

The Water District intends to address the recommendations by increasing educational efforts with residents and businesses and promoting best management practices for protecting supplies; by continuing to promote protection and conservation measures with town boards approving new developments; by preparation of a Wellhead Protection Plan; and by encouraging regional cooperation in protecting supplies that cross town boundaries. 

HOW CAN RESIDENTS HELP TO PROTECT SOURCES?

Residents can help by managing septic systems properly, careful disposal of household hazardous materials, proper maintenance of home heating oil tanks, and limiting herbicides and pesticides, as well as water use, on landscaping. Support of local zoning bylaws or other supply protection initiatives is also important. 

WHERE CAN I SEE THE SWAP REPORT?

The complete SWAP report can be viewed at the Water District's office at 50 Elm Street, Dedham. For more information call Dedham-Westwood Water District at (781) 329-7090 or go to www.state.ma.us/dep/brp/dws.

FUTURE GOALS

Future goals include the ability to meet future water demands during high use periods, implementation of a monthly billing system, launching an increasing block rate system to encourage conservation, implementing a conservation incentive program, and increased public education on efficient water use for landscaping and alternatives to drinking water quality water for outdoor use, such as rainwater collection.

Top of Report