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

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