Before we begin to design your system, TrueWaterQuality always researches the quality of your city or town water so we can optimize the filtration of your home’s water. If you have your own well we suggest comprehensive testing. Here are a couple useful resources to explore for those homeowners on Town Water who want to know what’s in their drinking water:
Do You Know Your Town's Water Quality?
Where your Drinking Water Comes From
The first source, Gravelly Pond (MassDEP Source ID# 3166000– 01S), is a surface water reservoir, which is located off Chebacco Road in Hamilton. Last year, it provided approximately 49.4 percent of Manchester’s drinking water. The reservoir has a surface area of 49 acres and a capacity of over 360 million gallons when full. The pond is fed by rainfall, runoff from the surrounding area, and groundwater springs. The pond’s watershed, or area that drains into the pond, is relatively small and the ability of the pond to recharge or fill back up, is limited. The second source is the Lincoln Street Well (MassDEP Source ID# 3166000-01G). This is a 58-foot-deep, 500 GPM, gravel packed well which is located next to the Manchester/Essex Regional Junior/ Senior High School on Lincoln Street in Manchester. Groundwater is pumped from a sand and gravel deposit that underlies the area. Last year the Lincoln Street Well provided approximately 50.6 percent of Manchester’s drinking water. To supplement the Gravelly Pond supply and in aiding with watershed recharge, the Town pumps water from the Round Pond Well (MassDEP Source ID# 3166000-02G) which is located along Chebacco Road in Hamilton into Gravelly Pond. A total of 13.616 million gallons were transferred in 2019.
EWG: Tap Water Database
The Environmental Working Group is a non- profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment.
Since 2010, water utilities’ testing has found pollutants in Americans’ tap water, according to an EWG drinking water quality analysis of 30 million state water records.
The site features research and news about pollutants found in drinking water, Drinking Water Standards and Consumer Reports. What is interesting about the EWG database is that for each type of contaminant found in your town’s water the site shows the “goal” target level in addition to the Federal government’s Maximum allowable level.
Click here to see EWG’s report on Manchester-by-the-Sea water: click here https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=MA3206000
The law requires water utilities to communicate specific information to consumers in an annual report by July 1st of each year. This report is known by various names such as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), “water quality report,” or “drinking water quality report.”
The CCR provides a wealth of information, including:
The SOURCE of your drinking water (e.g., lake, river, aquifer)
The LEVELS of any contaminants found in your drinking water, and for comparison, the maximum level permitted by the EPA (the EPA’s health-based standard called the “maximum contaminant level”) The POTENTIAL health effects of any contaminant detected at levels higher than the health standard.