NOTICE

COTUIT WATER DEPARTMENT    DRINKING WATER VIOLATION     DECEMBER 2013

                   

Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard.  Although this incident was not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know

what happened and what we did to correct this situation. From 12/1/13 to 12/16/13 we took twenty-four (24) samples to test for the presence of coliform bacteria. Three (3) of those samples showed the presence of coliform bacteria.  The standard is that no more than one (1) sample may do so.

What should I do?

  • You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk.  These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.  General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at l (800) 426-4791

What does this mean?

 This is not an emergency.  If it had been you would have been notified immediately.  Total coliform bacteria are generally not harmful themselves.  Coliforms are bacteria which 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.

Usually, coliforms are a sign that there could be a problem with the treatment or distribution system (pipes).  Whenever we detect coliform bacteria in any sample, we do follow-up testing to see if other bacteria of greater concern, such as fecal coliform or E. coli, are present.  We did not find any of these bacteria in our subsequent testing.  If we had, we would have notified you immediately. Further testing shows that this problem has been resolved.

What happened?  What was done?

On 12/1/13 seven (7) samples were taken and one (1) came back positive for total coliform.  On 12/3/13 repeat samples were taken at that location and at alternate up and designated downstream locations.  Two (2) repeat samples came back positive for total coliform.  On 12/6/13, the chlorination process was started.  On 12/6/13 repeat samples were taken at the same three (3) locations and all came back absent of coliform.  Chlorination will continue until further notice.

For more information, please contact Chris Wiseman at 508-428-2687 or at the Cotuit Water Department, located at 4300 Falmouth Road in Cotuit.

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.

This notice is being posted by the Cotuit Water Department,  PWS #4020003,  on December 27, 2013.

 

 

 

 

Agenda for Water Commissioner’s 12/26/13 Meeting

     COTUIT WATER DEPARTMENT          BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS 

     MEETING DATE: Thursday, December 26, 2013    FREEDOM HALL     976 MAIN ST.    COTUIT, MA

A G E N D A

1. MINUTES

2. WARRANTS

3. WATER QUALITY

4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

5. OLD BUSINESS

a.  Open Cape

b.  Security system

c.  West Street tank

6.  NEW BUSINESS

a.  5:30 – Leo Yuskus

NOTICE

                                                                          NOTICE TO COTUIT RESIDENTS


Please be advised that beginning Tuesday, 12/10/13, the Cotuit Water Department resumed adding small amounts of chlorine to the water supply (.1 to .2 parts per million) due to the detection of total coliform in samples taken on 12/2/13 and 12/4/13.  Coliforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present.  Usually coliforms are a sign that there could be a problem with the treatment of distribution system (pipes). Whenever we detect coliform bacteria in any sample, we do follow-up testing to see if other bacteria of greater concern, such as fecal coliform or E. coli, are present.  We did not find any of these bacteria in our subsequent testing. If we had, we would have notified you immediately.

   We advise aquarium owners and users of kidney dialysis machines to treat or filter the water before use.  Low levels of chlorine and a slight discoloration may be detected in the water. We have been in contact with the Department of Environmental Protection and will continue to investigate the cause of these detections. We will inform you via the District’s website (cotuitfiredistrict.org.) of any new information.

Thank you.

Cotuit Water Department