Thank you for visiting our website. The Warren Water District was established by the Acts of 1920. We continue to be a privately owned water district. The business is governed by a three member Board of Commissioners. Which are elected at the Annual Meeting.
The current BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:
Loretta Beaudry, Clerk Donald Makowski Agent Cynthia Baxter, Member
OFFICE LOCATION: 988 Main St. (across from the George Pizza)
Mailing address: P. O. Box 536, Warren, MA 01083-0536
Tuesday, August 9, 2022 1:00 pm Wednesday, August 24, 2022 10:00 am
OFFICE CLOSED August 25, 2022
wwd@warrenwater.comcastbiz.net.
We
want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you would like to learn more, please
attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings.
They are held the 2nd and the 4th Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m., at
988 Main Street. Please phone the office
if an evening meeting is needed to be scheduled. Large print documents will be provided upon
request at no additional cost to the person requesting accommodations.
The
Warren Water District is governed by a three member elected Board. The current Commissioners are: Loretta
Beaudry, Donald Makowski and Cynthia Baxter.
The Commissioners serve a three year term and the District encourages
minorities, females, and individuals with disabilities to apply for nomination
papers which must be filed thirty days prior to the Annual Meeting. The Annual District Meeting is held the 2nd
Thursday of May each year, in the Shepard Municipal Building, Gym at 48 High
St. Warren, MA.
This
Consumer Confidence Report is available upon request.
LANDLORDS: Please make this report
available to your tenants. BUSINESSES, SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND
PUBLIC BUILDINGS: Please post this report where employees and people who may
drink this water may read it. Section 2 DRINKING WATER SOURCE
Our water sources are two gravel packed wells and one manifold tubular
wellfield located at Comins Pond. We are
currently adding
a
blend of orthophosphate, polyphosphate
and
sodium hydroxide. The orthophosphate
content
of these products forms a protective
film
on ductile iron, steel, copper, lead and
other
metals to reduce corrosion. The
polyphosphate
content of the product
sequesters
iron, manganese and calcium
from
the water to reduce staining in plumbing
fixtures. Sodium hydroxide is being used
to
adjust the pH of the drinking water.
Zone
I is a 400 foot radius around each well.
Section
3 PROFESSIONAL LICENSED STAFF
The
State of Massachusetts has very specific laws requiring operators to be
certified to provide drinking water to the public. Our certified operators are required to hold
both a systems operator license and a treatment license. Our operators are
certified by the Association of Boards of Certification by meeting required
training and continuing education as required by the Massachusetts Division of
Registration, Drinking Water Operators Certification Board.
Section 4 SUBSTANCES FOUND IN TAP
WATER
Sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water)
include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land
or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals, and in some
cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the
presence of animals or from human activity.
Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
Microbial contaminants-such as viruses and bacteria, which may
come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock
operations, and wildlife.Inorganic contaminants-such
as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban
storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas
production, mining, and farming.
Pesticides and herbicides
-which may come from a
variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and
residential uses.
Organic chemical
contaminants-including
synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial
processes and petroleum production, and can also, come from gas stations, urban
storm water runoff, and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants-which can be naturally
occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In
order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water
provided by public water systems. The
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Massachusetts Department of Public
Health (DPH) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water
that must provide the same protection for public health. All drinking water, including bottled water,
may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some
contaminants. The presence of contaminants
does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and
potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking
Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Some
people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the
general population. Immuno-compromised
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 some 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 lowering the risk of infection by
Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe
Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).
Section 5 IMPORTANT DEFINITIONSMaximum
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. 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.
Action
Level (AL) – The
concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other
requirements that a water system must follow.
Variances
and Exemptions – State or
EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain
conditions.
ppm
= parts per
million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
ppb = parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/L) pCi/L
= picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity)
Section 6 2021 WATER QUALITY TESTING RESULTS
The water quality information presented in the table(s) is
from the most recent round of testing done in accordance with regulations. All data shown was collected during the
calendar year of January 1 to December 31, 2021 unless otherwise noted in the
table(s). All other testing including
bacteriological reports conducted throughout the year was below detectable
limits.
MONITORING
WAIVER GRANTED: The Department of Environmental
Protection granted a waiver for the testing of Synthetic Organic Compounds.
Section 6 2021 WATER QUALITY TESTING RESULTS (Continued) ASBESTOS: Some people who drink water containing asbestos
in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of developing
benign intestinal polyps. The next round of asbestos testing is
scheduled for 2022. RADIUM 226 & 228 AND GROSS ALPHA: The next round of
testing is scheduled for 2024. LEAD AND COPPER: Educational flyers
on the health effects of lead in drinking water are available at the District
office.90th
Percentile: Out of every 10 homes sampled, 9 were at or below this level. This
number is compared to the action level to determine lead and copper compliance.
The next round of Lead and Copper is
scheduled for 2022. Date Collected90TH
percentile #
of sites exceeded#
of sites sampledAction
levelMCLGViolation (Y/N)Possible
source of contamination Lead ug/L9/24/19
0.0045
0
10
.015
.015
N
Corrosion of
household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits
Coppermg/L9/24/19
0.132
0
10
1.3
1.3
N
Corrosion of
household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits
Lead is a common
metal found throughout the environment in lead-based paint, air, soil,
household dust, and food, certain types of pottery porcelain and pewter, and
water. Lead can pose a significant risk
to your health if too much of it enters your body. Lead builds up in the body over many years
and can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells, and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young children and
pregnant women. Amounts of lead that
won’t hurt adults can slow down normal mental and physical development of
growing bodies. In addition, a child at
play often comes into contact with sources of lead contamination – like dirt
and dust- that rarely affect an adult.
It is important to wash children’s hands and toys often, and to try to
make sure they put only food in their mouths.
Educational flyers on the health effects of lead in drinking water are
available at the District office.
Lead: If present,
elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for
pregnant women and young children. Lead
in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with
service lines and home plumbing. Warren
Water District is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but
cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several
hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap
for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water,
you may wish to have your water tested.
Information on lead in drinking water, testing method and steps you can
take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or
at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Copper:Copper is an
essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess
of the action level over a relatively short amount of time could experience
gastrointestinal distress. Some people
who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level, over many
years, could suffer liver and kidney damage.
People with Wilson’s disease should consult their personal doctor. MANGANESE:
Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral found in rocks, soil
and groundwater, and surface water. Manganese is necessary for proper nutrition
and is part of a healthy diet, but can have undesirable effects on certain
sensitive populations at elevated concentrations. The United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and MassDEP have set an aesthetics‐based Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) for
manganese of 50 ug/L (micrograms per liter), or 50 parts per billion. In
addition, MassDEP’s Office of Research and Standards (ORS) has set a drinking
water guideline for manganese (ORSG), which closely follows the EPA public
health advisory for manganese.
Section 6 2021 WATER QUALITY TESTING RESULTS (Continued)
Drinking water may naturally have manganese and, when
concentrations are greater than 50 ug/L, the water may be discolored and taste
bad. Over a lifetime, the EPA recommends that people drink water with manganese
levels less than 300 ug/L and over the short term, EPA recommends that people
limit their consumption of water with levels over 1000 ug/L, primarily due to
concerns about possible neurological effects. Children up to 1 year of age
should not be given water with manganese concentrations over 300 ug/L, nor
should formula for infants be made with that water for longer than 10 days. The ORSG differs from the EPA’s health
advisory because it expands the age group to which a lower manganese
concentration applies from children less than 6 months of age to children up to
1 year of age to address concerns about children’s susceptibility to manganese
toxicity.See: EPA Drinking Water Health
Advisory for Manganese
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccl/pdfs/reg_determine1/support_cc1_magnese_dwreport.pdf and MassDEP Office of Research and Standards
Guideline (ORSG) for Manganese http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/drinking/manganese-in-drinking-water.html*A:
Sources Pre-treatment
*B: Comins Pond Pump Station
**US EPA and MassDEP have established
public health advisory levels for manganese to protect against concerns of
potential neurological effects.
Unregulated or Secondary Contaminant
Date Collected
Result or Range Detected
Average detected
SMCL
ORSG or Health Advisory
Possible Sources Manganese (mg/L)
4/1/2021
4/1/2021
A*: 0.462
B*: 0.543
0.050
300**
Erosion
of natural deposits IRON:
Unregulated or Secondary Contaminant
Date Collected
Result or Range Detected
SMCL
Possible Sources
Iron(mg/L)
4/1/2021
A* 0.353
B* 0.356
0.3
Erosion
of natural deposits
*A: Sources Pre-treatment *B: Comins Pond Pump Station NITRATE: Nitrate in drinking
water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six
months of age. High nitrate levels in
drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome.
Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of
rainfall or agricultural activity. If
you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from your health care
provider.
Regulated
ContaminantDate
CollectedResultMg/LDetection
LimitMg/LMCLG
or Violation
(Y/N)Possible
Source of Contamination
Nitrate
12/1/2021
0.55
0.010
10.0
N
Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks,
sewage, erosion of natural deposits.
PERCHLORATE: This test was conducted 7/7/2021, and the
results were below detected limits. Perchlorate is widely used as a component of
propellants in rockets, missiles, and fireworks. Perchlorate is a human health concern as it
can interfere with iodide uptake into the thyroid gland, which can disrupt
thyroid function and can potentially disrupt fetal and child development.
SYNTHETIC
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS: The (SOC) was
tested on 6/1/2021, and the test results were Below Regulated Limit (B.R.L.) for all compounds.
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS: The (VOC) was tested on 4/1/2021, and
the test results were Below Regulated for all compounds. PFAS6: On October 2, 2020, MassDEP published
its PFAS public drinking water standard, called a Massachusetts Maximum
Contamination Level (MMCL), of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L) (or parts per
trillion (ppt)) – individually or for the sum of the concentrations of six
specific PFAS. These PFAS are perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS); perfluorooctanoic acid
(PFOA); perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS); perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA);
perfluorohepatanoic acid (PFHpA); and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). MassDEP
abbreviates this set of six PFAS as “PFAS6.” This drinking water standard is
set to be protective against adverse health effects for all people consuming
the water.
All other PFAS6 were undetected. These reported PFAS were detected but below
the Reporting Limit.
Regulated
Contaminant
(CASRN)
Date
Collected
MCL of
20 ppt
Health
EffectsPossible
Source of Contamination
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)
Perfluorohexane
sulfonic acid (PFHxS)
Perfluorooctanoic
acid (PFOA)
Perfluoroheptanoic
acid (PFHpA)
2/17/2021
2/17/2021
2/17/2021
2/17/2021
2/17/2021
2/17/2021
2/17/2021
2/17/2021
We1l
Well
Well
Well
Well
Well
Well
Well
02G
03G
02G
03G
02G
03G
02G
03G
1.2
1.7
N/D
0.50
1.9
2.1
0.76
0.95
Some
people who drink water containing these PFAS in excess of the ORSG may
experience certain adverse effects. These could include effects on the liver,
blood, immune system, thyroid, and fetal development. These PFAS may also
elevate the risk of certain cancers.
Discharges
and emissions from industrial and manufacturing sources associated with the
production or use of these PFAS, including production of moisture and oil
resistant coatings on fabrics and other materials. Additional sources include
the use and disposal of products containing these PFAS, such as fire-fighting
foams.
*PFOS was an unregulated
chemical from January 1 – October 1, 2020 and had an ORSG of 20 ppt. On October
2, 2020 it became regulated with an MCL of 20 ppt. Any detects found after that
time would be reported in the regulated table
Section 7 SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT
PROGRAM (SWAP)
The Department of Environmental Protection DEP, conducts a
SWAP to help the District recognize the potential contaminant sources within
Zone I and Zone II, and identify land uses within this area. Potential contaminant sources are the parking
area for beach users and aquatic wildlife.
This report
is available on DEP’s website www.state.ma.us/dep/brp/dws/
Section 8 WATER CONSERVATION TIPS!FIX A LEAK WEEK:
The Warren
Water District has teamed up with Lowes at 348 Palmer Rd., Ware to offer
discount savings on plumbing supplies to fix a leak and replacement
showerheads, faucets or toilets. Look
for information on Fix-a-leak week coming in March 2023. Install:
water-saving faucets and low-flow showerheads. Check your toilets for leaks:
The leaks are sometimes so small you cannot hear or see them. Remove the tank cover and add a few drops of
food coloring (red, green) to the tank, let set for approximately 2 hours. Then, look in the bowl. Do you see discolored water (red,
green)? If so, you have a leak and
should call a professional plumber. A
leaking toilet can use up to 200 gallons a day.
Section 9 DROUGHT CONDITIONS & CONSERVATION
The
District enforced a mandatory water use restriction in 2021 and has continued
this restriction until September 30, 2021 under the guidance of the DEP, Water
Management Act Permit.
The
District, through its Board of Water Commissioners, may declare a State of Water
Conservation if the Board by a majority vote determines a shortage of water
exists. Notification will take place by
the following: 1) Notice mailed with your quarterly bill 2)
Public access TV 3) Bill-board display located at 988 Main St. The following restrictions may occur:
1) Odd/even day outdoor
watering 2) Outdoor watering Ban 3) Filling of swimming pools 4)
Use of automatic sprinklers OR No nonessential outdoor water use is allowed
between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Water
use restrictions are implemented to protect your water supply and ensure water
quality during a State of Water Supply Emergency. (Article 15 of the District By-laws, Water
Use Restrictions, available upon request)
Section 10 BACKFLOW PREVENTION & CROSS CONNECTION
What is a cross connection? A cross connection is a direct
arrangement of a piping line which allows the potable water supply to be
connected to a line which contains a contaminant. An example is: a garden hose attached to a
service sink with the end of the hose submerged in a tub full of
detergent. The District is regulated
under a Department of Environmental Protection approved cross connection
program in accordance with 310 CMR 22.22.
Cross connection control is achieved by the combined cooperative effort
between plumbing and health officials, the water supplier, and the property
owners. Homeowners are required to
protect their drinking water supply when residential sprinkler systems are
installed.
Surveys are conducted on new businesses as
required. During 2021, in accordance
with regulations sixteen businesses and five home sprinkler systems were
tested. One device failed and repaired.
Section
11 ONLINE BILL PAY or Autopay
To accommodate our customers, we offer online bill pay
through Unibank. Go to: https://unipaygold.unibank.com Choose Warren Water District. Enter your 8 digits of your account number
and complete each screen to process your payment. We also accept MasterCard, American Express
and Discover credit card payments. Fees assessed on a per transaction basis by
UniPay Gold.
Section 12 GROUNDWATER PROTECTION
The Wellhead Protection Plan that was approved by the
Department of Environmental Protection along with this and other by-laws are
the cornerstones of our Master Plan.
The Groundwater Protection By-law was adopted by the Town of
Warren May of 2005. The purpose of this
by-law is to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the community
by ensuring quality and an adequate quantity of drinking water for its
residents and to protect the potential sources of our drinking water
supply.
A Groundwater Protection Regulation was adopted by the Board
of Health of the Town of Warren, January 10, 2002 pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 111, Section
31, and 122.
The Groundwater Protection By-law and Regulation
is available upon request at the District office. The Wellhead Protection Plan that was approved by the
Department of Environmental Protection along with this and other by-laws are
the cornerstones of our Master Plan.
The Groundwater Protection By-law was adopted by the Town of
Warren May of 2005. The purpose of this
by-law is to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the community
by ensuring quality and an adequate quantity of drinking water for its
residents and to protect the potential sources of our drinking water
supply.
A Groundwater Protection Regulation was adopted by the Board
of Health of the Town of Warren, January 10, 2002 pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 111, Section
31, and 122.
The Groundwater Protection By-law and Regulation
is available upon request at the District office.
Section
13 VISIT OUR DISTRICT WEBSITE
The
website has been developed to provide you updates on meeting date and times,
hydrant flushing, office hours, office policies such as shut off procedures.
Please visit: warrenwaterdistrict.net
Section
14 CLOSING STATEMENT The construction for the new Treatment Plant
is on schedule. We are looking to be
operational by December 31, 2022. The
building is up and the filtration vessels are being installed. With that being said, now we begin the loan
repayment. As of July 2022, an
assessment fee will be seen on your bill.
This fee will be based upon the loan payment each year. It will be divided equally between the number
of units within our district. An example
is a two family will be charged for both units. A four family, four units and
so on. No abatements will be granted
for the assessment fee.As
the loan is paid down your assessment fee will also be lower. At this time, the assessment fee is approximately
$48.00 per quarter. This is subject to
change based on the number of units at the time of calculation. The Commissioners and staff would like to
thank everyone for being so understanding over these past few years as we are
working diligently to correct the brown water issues.
“This
institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
If you wish
to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at https://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call
(866) 632-9992 to request the form. You
may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the
form. Send your completed complaint form
or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by
fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov
