Norwell Water Department
345 Main Street
Norwell, MA 02061
781-659-8076
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this incident was not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did to correct this situation.
We routinely monitor for drinking water contaminants. We collected forty-three (43) samples to test for the presence of coliform bacteria during December 2006. Twenty-one percent of our samples showed the presence of total coliform bacteria. The standard is that no more than five percent of samples may do so.
This was not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. Coliform bacteria are generally not harmful themselves. Coliforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems.
You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor. People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426-4791.
Usually, coliforms are a sign that there could be a problem with the system’s treatment or distribution system (pipes). Whenever we detect coliform bacteria in any sample, we do follow-up testing to see if other bacteria of greater concern, such as fecal coliform or E. coli, are present. We did not detect any of these bacteria in our subsequent testing, and further testing shows that this problem has been resolved.
Of thirteen (13) distribution samples collected on December 5, 2006, nine (9) showed the presence of coliform bacteria. These results were reported to the Norwell Water Department on December 7, 2006. Within 24 hours of this notification, the Norwell Water Department retested the positive sample sites, as well as, sites up and downstream, a total of twenty-two (22) additional samples. All of these samples were absent of coliform bacteria. Additional sampling of the positive sites, as well as other distribution sites, was conducted on December 15, 2006 and again, coliform bacteria was not present in any sample.
Upon notification of the original positive sample results, the Norwell Water Department increased the chlorine dosage rates at all treatment points. The Norwell Water Department suspects, although we cannot be certain, that compromised sample bottles contributed to the positive coliform test results. Therefore, new sampling protocols have been employed to reduce the probability of future positive coliform sample results.
For more information, please contact Water Superintendent John McInnis at 659-8076 (345 Main Street Norwell, MA).
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
This notice is being sent to you by: The Norwell Water Department PWS ID#: 4219000
Date Distributed: December 23, 2006
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