2013 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

  • Published
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The 2013 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report For MWRA Lexington Hanscom AFB (Public Water System Identification (PWSID) Number 3023002).

This report is an annual snapshot of the drinking water quality delivered by Hanscom Air Force Base. Under the "Consumer Confidence Reporting Rule" of the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Act, or SDWA, community water systems are required to report this water quality information to the consuming public. Presented in this report is information on the source of our water and where it comes from, what it contains, how it compares to state and federal standards, and the health risks associated with any contaminants. We are committed to providing you with information because customers are our best allies. If you are interested in opportunities for public participation in decisions that may affect the quality of the water, please contact the personnel listed in section I. Meetings occur on a non-routine and as-needed basis.

I. PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION

Address: Hanscom Air Force Base
Contact Person: Charles Strickland III, Civil Engineering, and SSgt James Caruso, 66th Medical Squadron Bioenvironmental Engineering.
Telephone #: (781) 225-2969 and (781) 225-6366

Water System Improvements:
Our water system is routinely inspected by the Utilities Shop of the CE and 66 MDS Bioenvironmental Engineering. CE and BE inspect the system for its technical, financial and managerial capacity to provide safe drinking water to you. To ensure the highest quality water is available and provided to you, a Massachusetts-certified operator oversees the routine operations of our water system.

II. YOUR DRINKING WATER SOURCE

The water supplied to Hanscom is purchased from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, or MWRA. The water comes from the Quabbin Reservoir, about 65 miles west of Boston, and the Wachusett Reservoir, about 35 miles west of Boston. Water is sent from the Quabbin Reservoir through the Wachusett Reservoir to 39 MetroWest and Greater Boston cities and towns to include Hanscom . Approximately 17 percent of the water supplied to the Minuteman mobile home park is supplied from wells in the town of Bedford.
Quabbin and Wachusett watersheds are protected naturally, and through MWRA and Metropolitan District Commission, or MDC, watershed management. Over 85 percent of the watersheds are covered in forest and wetlands that help purify water as it flows across the land to the reservoirs. MWRA and MDC control land use and access to the watersheds. Law enforcement rangers patrol the watershed daily and MWRA scientists make sure the watersheds, streams, and reservoirs are tested regularly.

MWRA's licensed treatment operators treat the water through a process called primary disinfection. The water chemistry is adjusted to reduce corrosion of lead and copper from home plumbing. Fluoride is also added to reduce cavities. As of July 2005, ozone is added to the water leaving the reservoirs to kill microorganisms that may be present. Once the water enters the main MWRA distribution system, it is treated with a mild and enduring disinfectant called chloramine. Based on acceptable levels of total chlorine from the MWRA facility, Hanscom does not supplement the distribution system with any additional disinfectant. Additionally, in the event of a water emergency the Hanscom Water Supply Emergency Response Plan will be implemented to provide necessary action.

In July 2005, the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant started providing state-of-the-art treatment to the drinking water for 39 communities in Eastern Massachusetts served by the MWRA. The Marlborough plant uses ozonation and chloramination to treat up to 270 million gallons of water daily (up to 405 on a peak day). This treatment has improved drinking water quality and strengthened the region's ability to comply with the Federal SDWA. These changes, along with past improvements, have drastically reduced the byproducts from chlorination and have improved disinfection.

III. 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. It 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 stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides -which may come from a variety of sources such as agricultural or urban stormwater 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 stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants - 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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, 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 Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 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 guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

IV. IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

Maximum Contaminant Level, or MCL - the highest level of a contaminant in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (see below) as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, or 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.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level, or MRDL -- The highest level of a disinfectant (chlorine, chloramines, chlorine dioxide) allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal, or MRDLG -- The level of a drinking water disinfectant (chlorine, chloramines, chlorine dioxide) below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG's do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
Action Level, or AL - the concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
90th Percentile - Out of every 10 homes, 9 were at or below this level.
Treatment Technique, or TT - A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Variances and Exemptions - State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions.
Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level, or SMCL - These standards are developed to protect the aesthetic qualities of drinking water and are not health based.

V. WATER QUALITY TESTING RESULTS

EPA and state regulations require many tests of water quality after treatment. MWRA follows, and even goes beyond, federal and state standards with the frequency and sensitivity of tests. The EPA has identified 120-plus contaminants which must be tested in drinking water. A complete list can be found at mwra.com. During 2013, the MWRA only found 8 EPA identified contaminants. None of the contaminant levels detected exceeded the EPA's MCLs. The link to the full report for the Metro Boston area is www.mwra.com/wqr/2013/metro.pdf

Click here to view Table 1: MWRA Sampling Results

Clicke here to view Table 2: Other Contaniments 

MWRA has been working with EPA and other researchers to define new national drinking water standards by testing for contaminants that are not regulated. MWRA results will be used with those of other water suppliers to help EPA set regulations if they are necessary. MWRA is also participating with Tufts University on a nationally funded study testing for Cryptosporidium and Giardia. MWRA also tests reservoir water for pathogens - such as fecal coliform, bacteria, viruses, and the parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia. They can enter the water from animal or human waste. All test results were well within state and federal testing and treatment standards. Cryptosporidium can cause gastrointestinal illness, with symptoms that include diarrhea, nausea, and/or stomach cramps. People with severely weakened immune systems (that is, severely immuno-compromised) are likely to have more severe and more persistent symptoms than healthy individuals. These symptoms are unlikely to be found due to the low measured values. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Hanscom provides quality drinking water by maintaining the local distribution system and testing regularly. Along with the routine water evaluations performed by the MWRA, the base's BE office monitors the quality of our water by testing it monthly at nine locations for bacteria, chlorine, and pH levels on the base and FamCamp. A qualified staff member collects samples and delivers them to the MWRA for analysis.

Sodium: Sodium in water contributes a small fraction of a person's overall sodium intake, less than 10 percent. MWRA tests for sodium monthly and the highest level found was 35.9 mg/L (about 9 mg per 9 oz. glass) This would be considered very low sodium by the FDA.

Bacteriological Testing: Coliforms are bacteria that 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. Six routine monthly drinking water samples were tested positive for total coliform during 2013. Several protocols were implemented to determine the cause and eliminate the issue. Unusually warm temperatures for an extended period of time may have contributed to the problem. A water system study was completed, including a review of protocols implemented by the Town of Bedford related to chlorination and flushing. Line flushing of the Hanscom system and repeat sampling was accomplished until all results were negative.

TCR Results:
From July through October 2013, 31 samples were positive coliforms were found during routine sampling in 2013, and over 50 repeat samples were positive. The MCL for Hanscom is one positive sample a month. Flushing the lines and repeat sampling was done until each sample location came back negative.

Click here to view Table 3: Hanscom AFB Total Coliform Results

Lead and Copper:
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. MWRA 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 the 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 methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

MWRA water is lead-free when it leaves the reservoirs. The pipes that carry the water to communities are made mostly of iron and steel and do not add lead to water. However, local water pipes and home plumbing fixtures containing lead and copper material can affect water quality at your tap. Corrosion or "wearing away" of this material can add lead and copper to your tap water, especially if water sits for long periods of time in the pipes before use. In 2013, testing was conducted on 25 locations throughout Hanscom and the Minuteman Mobile Home Park to determine compliance with established guidelines. The 90th percentile results for both lead and copper were below the EPA established action levels (Table 4). This puts our system in compliance with federal regulation requirements. The next lead and copper sampling period is scheduled for September 2016.

Click here to view Table 4: 2013 Hanscom AFB Lead and Copper Sampling Results

Bedford Water analysis
In 2013 Bedford had detects of non-harmful, non-pathogenic bacteria called Total Coliform that bloomed in response to high water temperatures. Between July and October we received numerous detections of Total Coliform with August being the highest month at 57 percent positive. This was a violation of the DEP standards. We performed many follow-up tests for E.coli and we never detected any. When the weather became cold, they stopped seeing Total Coliform after October. www.mwra.com/wqr/2013/marlborough.pdf

Click here to view Table 5: Bedford Sampling Results

VI. COMPLIANCE WITH DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS

Does My Drinking Water Meet Current Health Standards? Yes, Hanscom water meets current health standards. Concerning your drinking water, Water Utilities and BE are committed to providing you with the best water quality available.

VII. EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

Frequently asked questions:
 
Q. How would I know about a problem with the water supply?
A. BE and Water Utilities regularly test and inspect the water supply and the distribution system. If a problem was found, all affected people would be notified through leaflets, email, and the base newspaper.

Q. My water tastes and smells funny. Is it safe to drink?
A. According to MWRA, you can safely drink and cook with the water. Algae can cause water to have a "funny" smell and odor. Algae are normal, harmless plants that appear in the reservoirs at certain times of the year. On occasion, customers may also taste or smell the low levels of chlorine compounds added to disinfect the water. Fill a jug with tap water and put it the refrigerator to get rid of the taste and odor.

Q. My water is cloudy sometimes but then clears up. Can I drink it?
A. You can safely drink and cook with the water. Water travels under pressure throughout the system.
Occasionally, air can become trapped in the water in tiny bubbles causing water to look cloudy. This is only temporary and the water clears up in a short time.

Q. My water is discolored. Can I drink it?
A. According to MWRA, you can safely drink and cook with the water. Old iron pipes in your building can cause a red, brown, or yellow color in the water. A yellow color is from iron that is absorbed by water that has been sitting in pipes for a long time. A red or brown color is caused by very small specks of iron. These specks of iron can enter the water if there is quick change in water speed or direction in your local pipes. Such changes can result from valve repair, flushing the system or the testing or use of fire hydrants.

If you have any questions or concerns about anything contained in this report, someone at one of the following numbers will be happy to assist you. Hanscom does not hold regularly scheduled board meetings for public participation in decisions that may affect the quality of the water.

Bioenvironmental Engineering: 781-225-6366
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority: 617-242-5323
EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 800-426-4791
Hanscom AFB Public Affairs Office: 781-225-1686
Bedford Department of Public Works: 781-275-7605

Additional information can be obtained by viewing the following websites:

http://www.mwra.state.ma.us
http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/swapreps.htm
http://www.state.ma.us/dep/brp/dws/

Source water assessment reports for MWRA and Bedford sources:
http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dep/water/drinking/swap/nero/6000000.pdf

Last updated: June 2014