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

  1. CCR2021-With Inserts