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 City of Waltham purchases all of its water directly from Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) . The water is delivered through eight master water meters into the City’s water distribution system. The water distribution system consists of the network of water pipes, gate valves, fire hydrants and service laterals. The system delivers water to homes, businesses and other facilities for drinking and other uses. Waltham’s water distribution system consists of 170 miles of water mains, ranging in size from four to twenty- four inches in diameter. There are approximately 14,000 water service connections to homes and businesses. The City owns and maintains 1600 fire hydrants. There are 3,300 water gate valves in the distribution system that allow us to control the flow of water and isolate portions of the system to be shut down for repairs and maintenance.
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 Waltham 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.