DRINKING WATER NOTICE To all users of the Groton Water Department located in Groton, Massachusetts This is an important notice – please translate it for anyone who does not understand English.

We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants to ensure the safety of the water supply. 

On July 11, 2024 our water system was notified that a water sample collected on July 10, 2024 from our Baddacook Pond Well tested positive for E.coli, which is a fecal indicator.  Fecal indicators are used to detect ground water sources that may be susceptible to fecal contamination which may contain harmful viruses or bacteria.  When we learned of the fecal positive sample, THE WELL WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN OFFLINE.

This source is one of four active wells that supplies drinking water to our system.  The water delivered to you through the distribution system is disinfected with chlorine to kill viruses and bacteria, including E.coli. Only the untreated sample from the Baddacook Pond Well tested positive. The chlorinated sample collected after treatment was absent for fecal indicators. Even though the chlorinated sample was absent, our chlorine disinfection system has not been certified by MassDEP as 4-log compliant as required by the Ground Water Rule (GWR). In accordance with Ground Water Rule (GWR) requirements, we are notifying you of the situation and conducting additional sampling to evaluate the extent of potential fecal contamination and will take further actions as necessary. 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?    WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

This is not an emergency, you do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions at this time.

The USEPA requires us to provide you with this notice and the following information on fecal indicators: “Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.  Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms.  They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.”  These symptoms can also be caused by issues unrelated to drinking water.  If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, or, if you have specific health concerns, you may want to discuss such concerns with your doctor.  General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-hotlines#drinking

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and Businesses).  You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

WHAT IS BEING DONE?

We continue to maintain chlorine levels throughout our system and monitor for the presence of fecal contaminants in the sources and distribution system to ensure the safety of the water supply.  The well will remain offline for further evaluation.

Our system is undergoing repeat testing and evaluation to determine if the current level of treatment is adequate or if additional corrective actions are necessary to reduce the risk of potential fecal contamination in our drinking water supply.  Some consumers may notice a slight discoloration or odor/taste in the water, as the disinfection level of chlorine has been temporarily increased until the investigation is complete.

We are in contact with MassDEP during this process who will evaluate the effectiveness of the steps taken and determine if any further action is required.  If necessary, you will be notified again if you need to take any corrective actions.  This notice does not affect persons using private drinking water wells.

For more information and further updates, please contact our office at 978-448-1122 or water@grotonma.gov

PWSID#2115000 Date Distributed: 7/12/24