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Analysis of Agawam's Water
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA and MassDEP prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA and Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health).
Water samples are analyzed daily by state-certified laboratories to ensure that the water supplied is potable and meets all government standards. The water is monitored at the reservoir, the filter plant, the storage tanks and throughout the distribution system. The data in the table on this page represents finished water in the distribution system during calendar year 2021.
Contaminat Findings
Contaminant Inorganics |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
Violation |
Ideal Goal (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)) |
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) |
90th Percentile |
Sampling Sites Exceeding the Action Level |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asbestos (Million Fibers Per Liter (MFL)) |
Decay of asbestos cement water mains; erosion of natural deposits |
No |
7 |
7 |
None Detected (Highest Detected Level (HDL)) |
N/A |
Barium (Parts Per Million (ppm)) |
Common, natural mineral |
No |
2 |
2 |
0.0060 (HDL) |
N/A |
Copper (ppm) |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems |
No |
1.3 |
Action Level (AL) = 1.3 |
0.0777 |
0 out of 30 |
Lead (ppb) |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems |
No |
0 |
AL = 15.0 |
2.4 |
0 out of 30 |
Nitrate (ppm) |
Natural Deposits, Stormwater, fertilizer run-off |
No |
10 |
10 |
0.0595 (HDL) |
N/A |
Contaminant Microbiological |
Possible Source of Contamination |
Violation |
MCLG |
MCL |
Highest Percent Positive in a Month |
Range Detected at Individual Sampling Sites |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
E.coli |
Human and animal fecal waste |
No |
0 |
See Key** |
0% |
0 |
Contaminant Microbiological |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
Violation |
MCLG | TT | Highest Single Measurement |
Lowest Monthly Percent |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Turbidity (NTU) Rapid Sand Filtration*** Daily Compliance |
Soil run-off | No |
N/A |
1 |
0.23 |
N/A |
Turbidity (NTU) Rapid Sand Filtration***
Monthly Compliance |
Soil run-off | No | N/A | TT, at least 95% of samples per month below 0.3 | N/A | 100% |
Turbidity (NTU) Slow Sand Filtration**** Daily Compliance |
Soil run-off |
No | N/A |
5
|
0.18 |
N/A |
Turbidity (NTU) Slow Sand Filtration****
Monthly Compliance |
Soil run-off | No | N/A | TT, at least 95% of samples per month below 1.0
|
N/A | 10% |
Contaminant Organics |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
Violation |
Ideal Goal (MCLG) |
MCL |
Highest Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA) | Range Detected at Individual Sampling Sites |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TTHMs (Parts Per Billion (ppb)) (Total Trihalomethanes) |
By-product of drinking water chlorination |
No |
N/A |
80 (LRAA) |
68.8 |
33.3-120.0 |
HAA5s (ppb) (Total Haloacetic Acids) |
By-product of drinking water chlorination | Yes |
N/A |
60 (LRAA) |
69.5 |
6.7-88.8 |
HAA5 Site #10005
(1057 N. Westfield St) sampled: 12/1/21 |
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination | Yes | N/A | 60 (LRAA) |
65.8 | 38.7-88.8 |
HAA5 Site #001
(36 Main St) sampled: 9/1/21 & 12/1/21 |
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination | Yes | N/A | 60 (LRAA) |
67.7 | 47.0-84.0 |
HAA5 Site #IDSE04
(1200 Springfield St) sampled: 12/1/21 |
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination | Yes | N/A | 60 (LRAA) |
69.5 | 50.3-85.7 |
Disinfectants Substance |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
Violation |
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) |
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) |
Annual Average |
Range Detected |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Residual Chlorine (ppm) |
Water additive used to control microbes |
No |
4 |
4 |
0.37 |
0.03-1.19 |
Radionuclides Substance (September 18, 2015) |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
Violation |
MCLG |
MCL |
Highest Detected Level |
Range Detected |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gross Alpha (picocuries per liter (pCi/L)) |
Erosion of natural deposits |
No |
0 |
15 |
0.262 |
N/A |
Radium-226 and Radium-228 Combined (pCi/L) |
Erosion of natural deposits |
No |
0 |
5 |
0.25 |
N/A |
Unregulated**** Substance |
Major Sources in Drinking Water |
Violation |
Massachusetts Office of Research and Standards Guideline (ORSG)/Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) |
MCL |
Highest Single Measurement |
Range Detected at Individual Sampling Sites |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sodium (ppm) |
Natural deposits; runoff from use as salt on roadways; by-product of the treatment process |
No |
20 (ORSG) |
None |
11.4 |
N/A |
Manganese (ppb) |
Erosion of natural deposits |
No | 50 (SMCL) |
None |
5.5 | NA |
Chloroform (ppb)
|
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
|
No | 70 (ORSG) | None | 5.61 | N/A |
Bromodichloromethane(ppb)
|
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
|
No | None Established | None | 0.73 | N/A |
Key to Table
- Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. It is monitored because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of the filtration system
- **Routine and repeat samples are total coliform-positive and either is E. coli-positive or system fails to take repeat samples following E. coli-positive routine sample or system fails to analyze total coliform-positive repeat sample for E. coli.
- ***Rapid Sand Filtration: The turbidity level of the filtered water shall be less than or equal to 0.3 NTU in 95% of the measurements taken each month and shall not exceed a maximum of 1.0 NTU in any single measurement
- ****Slow Sand Filtration: The turbidity level of the filtered water shall be less than or equal to 1.0 NTU in 95% of the measurements taken each month and shall not exceed a maximum of 5.0 NTU in any single measurement
- AL: Action Level. The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers a treatment or other requirement which a water system must follow
- AWD: Agawam Water Department
- HDL: Highest Detected Level
- IDSE: Initial Distribution System Evaluation
- LRAA: Locational Running Annual Average
- MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level. The highest level of a contaminant in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology
- MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. 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
- MFL: million fibers per liter
- MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants (ex. Chlorine, chloramines, chlorine dioxide)
- MRDLG: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants
- N/A: not applicable
- NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units. A numerical value indicating the cloudiness of water
- ORSG=Mass. Office of Research and Standards Guideline. The concentration of a chemical in drinking water at or below which adverse health effects are unlikely to occur after chronic (lifetime) exposure. If exceeded it serves as an indicator of the potential need for further action
- pCi/L: picocuries per liter: a measure of radioactivity
- ppb: parts per billion
- ppm: parts per million
- 90th Percentile: Out of every 10 homes, 9 were at or below this level
- TT: Treatment Technique. A treatment technique is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water
- SMCL: Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level
- SWSC: Springfield Water and Sewer Commission
Report
-
Jim Deni
Department Superintendent/Water DepartmentPhone: 413-821-0627
-
Water Department
Physical Address
Public Works Municipal Annex
1000 Suffield Street
Agawam, MA 01001
Phone: 413-821-0600Fax: 413-821-0631Emergency Phone: Agawam Police Department 413-786-4767
Email the Water Department
PWS # 1005000
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Except Municipal Holidays