Board of Health Wilmington, MA. 01887

 

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Silver Lake...Fish Advisories

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Lead can get into tap water if you have lead pipes, lead solder or brass fixtures in your home. Corrosion or wearing away of lead-based materials can add lead to tap water, especially if water sits for a long period of time in the pipes before use. The pipes that carry water throughout our community are made of iron, steel or copper and do not add lead to your water.

WILMINGTON DOES NOT CURRENTLY MEET THE LEAD STANDARDS

Under U.S. EPA rules, the water department must test tap water in a sample of homes that are likely to have high lead levels. These are typically homes with lead solder built between 1983 and 1985. The EPA rule requires that 9 out of 10, or 90%, of the sampled homes must have lead levels below the Action Level of 15 parts per billion (ppb).
In 2006, the Wilmington water department collected 30 samples for lead testing. Four of these samples exceeded the 15 ppb Action Level. That means only 87% of the sampled homes were less than the lead action limit. This requires the water department to reexamine our water chemistry and make adjustments to the water that will reduce its reaction with lead in your home’s plumbing.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO LOWER LEAD LEVELS AT THE TAP?

In 1994, we increased the lime dosage to adjust the water's pH and buffering capacity. This change made the water less likely to leach lead from the pipes and the Town met the 90% criteria of homes with lead levels less than 15ppb. This year, with no changes to the treatment process, we fell out of compliance with only 87% passing. A consultant has been engaged to study the problem and to make recommendations on how to best reduce the chance of leaching lead from your homes plumbing.

REDUCE YOUR POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD

To reduce your potential exposure, you should always use cold, running water for drinking and cooking. You should buy plumbing fixtures that have zero or low-lead levels. Read the labels of any new plumbing fixtures closely, most contain lead.

· Run tap water until the water feels colder. Then fill a pitcher with fresh water and place in the refrigerator for future use.

· Never use hot water from the faucet for drinking or cooking, especially when making baby formula or food for infants. Boiling the water will not remove the lead.

· Call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (1-800-532-9571) for health information, or visit their website: http://www.mass.gov/dph

· EPA Lead Information: http://www.epa.gov/lead/leadinfo.htm
Infants and children are more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. Lead levels in your home may be higher than levels in other homes in your community as a result of materials used in your home's plumbing. Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning disabilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.

If you are concerned about lead levels in your home's water, you may wish to have your water tested at a state certified lab. (2 closest labs listed below)

· Thorstensen Labs Inc. 66 Littleton Rd.Westford, MA01886 (978) 692-8395

· Northeast Environmental Lab. 18 Riverside Ave.Danvers, MA01923 (978) 777-4442

Please do not hesitate to call the water dept. should you have any further questions at 978-658-4711

The Town of Wilmington announced today that preliminary results of on-going, comprehensive water quality testing have indicated the presence of NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine) in four inactive wells in the Maple Meadow Brook Aquifer.  These water supply wells have been inactive since the fall of 2002.  Test results also show that the Town’s drinking water does not contain NDMA.

The testing was conducted by the Olin Corporation under the supervision of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  Water sample locations included eleven points in the water distribution system, various locations at the Butters Row Treatment plant, and wells located in the Maple Meadow Brook Aquifer.

Although test results show that the Town’s current water supply does not contain NDMA, Wilmington’s Water Department Superintendent Michael Woods has suspended further use of all water supply wells in the aquifer. “As a precautionary measure we will continue to keep these wells off-line until more information and test data are gathered concerning the presence and extent of NDMA in the aquifer,” said Woods.  Woods continued, “Based on the test results, there is no NDMA in the Town’s drinking water.”

NDMA, while found in small quantities in some everyday products, including certain foods and cosmetics, has been shown to be carcinogenic in animal studies.  As a result, it is considered to be a probable human carcinogen.  According to the World Health Organization, NDMA is no longer used commercially or industrially in the United States but continues to be released as a by-product and contaminant from various industries and from municipal wastewater treatment plants.  Releases of NDMA to the environment have been associated with the manufacture of pesticides, rubber tires, alkylamines, and dyes.  DEP officials believe that NDMA is present in the Maple Meadow Brook Aquifer primarily as a result of historical releases of hazardous materials at the Olin Corporation site, 51 Eames Street.

Public water supplies are not ordinarily tested for the presence of NDMA, and there is no federal drinking water standard.  DEP’s Office of Research and Standards has derived a drinking water guideline at 10ng/L (ten parts per trillion) for a thirty-year exposure period and an immediate action level of 200ng/L (two hundred parts per trillion).  In addition, DEP recently established water quality guidelines as well as a protocol for NDMA testing for the Wilmington water supply.

Samples collected from the inactive wells contained NDMA at concentration levels ranging from 32 parts per trillion to 166 parts per trillion. With levels less than 200 parts per trillion, the Town is not required to take immediate action.  However, Town Manager Michael Caira said, "Even though the contaminant levels did not require a mandatory shut-down, keeping these wells off-line will eliminate any exposure to NDMA and ensure the safety of our public water supply.”  Caira further explained, “Although no NDMA has been detected in the Town Park well or in the Town’s distribution system, we intend to keep all wells that are located in the Maple Meadow Brook Aquifer off-line as long as the threat exists.”

According to accepted protocol, test results must go through a scientific validation procedure before they are considered confirmed results.  Validated results of all the NDMA testing is expected by the end of March.  The Town, DEP and the Olin Corporation have announced that there will be further testing of the Olin site and the Maple Meadow Brook Aquifer to determine the extent of NDMA in the groundwater.  In addition, the town has taken steps to issue this public announcement concerning the presence of NDMA in the Maple Meadow Brook Aquifer and has  posted information about preliminary test results on the Board of Health web page at http://www.mhoa.com/boh.

Superindentent Michael Woods outlined several measures the Water Department will take to ensure a safe and uninterrupted water supply.  He indicated that Wilmington will rely on town wells outside of the Maple Meadow Brook Aquifer and will continue to implement water conservation measures, including the imposition of outside watering restrictions.  In addition, if necessary, Woods said that the Town will activate emergency interconnections with neighboring communities to meet peak water demands.

Earlier this year, the Town executed an agreement with the Olin Corporation, which requires Olin to fund the construction of an emergency MWRA water connection.  Olin agreed to pay up to $3 million to establish an emergency water source for the community. Construction is expected to be completed in 2004.

Further information will be provided by town officials and representatives of DEP and the Olin Corporation at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Monday, March 24, 2003.

For additional information, contact: Michael Woods, Wilmington Water Superintendent (978-658-4711); Greg Erickson, Wilmington Board of Health (978-658-4298); Stephen Johnson, DEP Chief of Site Management Section (978-661-7710); William D. Sweet, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 1-888-422-8737 or the following websites: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs141.html or http://www.grac.org/wong_ndma.pdf
 

Preliminary NDMA Testing Results

 

Based on available data, the Board of Health concurs with the decision
of the Water Superintendent that as a precaution the wells in which
NDMA was detected will remain off-line.

Prior to putting the wells on-line the Board of Heatlh will
require information demonstrating the safety of the wells.

The Agency for Toxics Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
is conducting a study of the NDMA and the water supply.
This will be released to the public as soon as the report is available.

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Section 6.5 Before use, or upon transfer of a property any well intended for use as a potable water supply must be tested for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) in accordance with EPA Method 524.2 and for Total Coliform bacteria, and must meet the minimum standard of 0 Total Coliform bacteria per 100 ml.  Such well must also be tested for Arsenic and must meet the current standard (0.05 mg/L).  Testing must be done by a laboratory which is certified by the Department of Environment Protection or the Environmental Protection Agency and the report of the testing must be provided to the Board of Health before the well is used as a potable water supply, or in the case of a transfer of property, the report of the testing must be provided to the Board of Health and to the buyer of the property before the transfer of the property.

The full text of the Board of Health Regulations can be seen here: Regulations

For a DEP Fact Sheet titled Arsenic in Private Well Water, click here
 

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PUBLIC HEALTH FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY
SILVER LAKE

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has reviewed fish toxics data generated by the Department of Environmental Protection for Silver Lake. Mercury, as well as the pesticide DDT and its derivatives, have been detected in largemouth bass and yellow bullhead caught from Silver Lake. The mercury level in largemouth bass was below the Food and Drug Administration Action Level for mercury of 1.0 mg/kg but within a level that may pose health concerns for some individuals. The average concentration of DDT and its derivatives in yellow bullhead were above a level that MDPH considers safe for unlimited consumption. DDT and mercury may accumulate in individuals who frequently eat fish contaminated with pesticides or mercury, thus leading to an increased risk of health effects. Fetuses, nursing infants, and young children are particularly sensitive to the developmental and health problems associated with mercury exposure. Because of health concerns associated with exposure to DDT and mercury, the MDPH offers the following recommendations:

RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Children under 12, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and women of childbearing age who may become pregnant should refrain from consuming largemouth bass and yellow bullhead from Silver Lake to prevent exposure of developing fetuses, nursing infants and young children to mercury or DDT.

2. The general public should limit consumption of largemouth bass and yellow bullhead caught from Silver Lake to two meals per month.

For more information contact:  Massachusetts Department of Public Health Center for Environmental Health
(617) 624-5757
 
 

The following is an excerp from 2002 Fish Toxics Monitoring Public Request and Year 2 Watershed Surveys

Silver Lake: Silver Lake is a 28-acre mesotrophic kettle-hole pond located in the town of Wilmington.  Land-use in the Silver Lake watershed is approximately 95 percent medium density residential.  Mercury concentrations exceeded the MDPH trigger level of 0.5 mg/kg in the one of the five samples analyzed. The largemouth bass sample contained 0.67 nig/Kg of mercury. All remaining metals wen either below MDLs or at concentrations that do not appear to be of concern.
Although trace concentrations of PCB Congeners (BZ#s!13, 114, 180, 170), Arochlor 1260, and DD1 metabolites DDD and DDE were detected in fish from Silver Lake, seven of the nine results wen ''qualified" as "Estimated value-concentration <RDL or certain criteria not met."  The presence of DDE and DDE in yellow bullhead, and mercury in largemouth bass., resulted in the issuance of a MDPH fish consumption advisory which recommends: 'Children under 12, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and women of childbearing age who may become pregnant should refrain from consuming largeracuth "bass and yellow bullhead from Silver Lake to prevent exposure of developing fetuses, nursing infants and young children to mercury or DDT." and ''The general public should limit consumption of largemouth bass and yellow bullhead caught from Silver Lake to two meais per month".  It is unclear where PCB Congeners, Arochlors, DDD, or DDE may have originated, however, historic use and discharge from industry or homes (in the case of DDD and DDE) are certainly potential sources. Concentrations do not appear to be indicative of an ongoing source of these contaminants.

PUBLIC HEALTH FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY
FOSTERS POND

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has reviewed fish toxics data generated by the Department of Environmental Protection for Fosters Pond, Mercury has been detected m fish caught from Fosters Pond below the Food and Drug Administration Action Level for mercury of 1.0 mg/kg but within a level that may pose health concerns for some individuals. Mercury may accumulate in individuals who frequently eat fish contaminated with mercury thus leading to an increased risk of health effects. Fetuses and nursing infants are particularly sensitive to the developmental and health problems associated with mercury exposure. Because of health concerns associated with exposure to mercury, the MDPH offers the following recommendations:

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Children under 12, pregnant women and nursing mothers should refrain from consuming any fish caught from Fosters Pond to prevent exposure of developing fetuses, nursing infants and young children to mercury.

2. The general public should limit consumption of all fish from Fosters Pond to two meals per month.

For more information contact:
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment (617) 624-5757

May 2001

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Animal Control

Pet Food Recalls:  Link to the FDA site petfood page:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html
 

To contact the Animal Control Officer, call the Police Department at (978) 658-3331.
For more information about regulating animals, see the Board of Health Regulations.

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