The Dedham-Westwood Water District has demonstrated compliance with state and federal standards for lead and copper levels in drinking water.
Compliance for lead is achieved when at least 90% of samples collected at MassDEP-approved sample sites (30 homes) have a lead level below the Action Level (AL) of 15 Parts Per Billion (PPB).
Compliance for copper is achieved when at least 90% of samples collected at MassDEP have a copper level below the Action Level (AL) of 1.3 Parts Per Million (PPM).
Testing is conducted annually.
In 2025, the District sampled 31 sites for lead and copper during the fall.
| Detected Parameter (Units) | EPA's AL for Sampling of Customer Homes with the Highest Risk | Maximum Contaminant Level Goal | Results | Compliance Achieved | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 90% of all homes tested must be below 15 PPB | 0 PPB | 90% of all homes tested measured below 2 PPB. | Yes | Corrosion of household plumbing; erosion of natural deposits. ONE site resulted in a value above the AL of 15 PPB. |
| Copper | 90% of all homes tested must be below 1.3 PPM | 1.3 PPM | 90% of all homes tested measured below 0.10 PPM. | Yes | Corrosion of household plumbing; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives. There were NO sites with values above the copper AL of 1.3 PPM |