NOTICE

COTUIT WATER DEPARTMENT    DRINKING WATER VIOLATION     JUNE 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 6/1/13 to 6/30/13  we took twenty-eight (28) samples to test for the presence of coliform bacteria. Five (5) 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 6/17/13 nine (9) samples were taken and two (2) came back positive for total coliform ( Main Street tank & Santuit-Newtown tank).  On 6/19/13 repeat samples were taken at both locations along with designated upstream and downstream locations.  The repeat samples at both tanks and the upstream of the Santuit-Newtown tank came back positive for total coliform. On 6/21/13 the Department had the Main Street and Santuit- Newtown tanks chlorinated.  On 6/24/13 repeat samples were taken at both locations along with designated upstream and downstream locations.  Five (5) samples came

back absent of total coliform and the designated downstream location of the Main Street tank  came back invalid.  On 6/26/13 a repeat sample of that location was taken and came back absent of total coliform.

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,  July 18, 2013.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

                                                         ATTENTION                          COTUIT RESIDENTS


                                    THE BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS HAS DECLARED

                                             A  STATE OF WATER SUPPLY CONSERVATION


  • Please avoid all outside use between the hours of 8:00 AM  and 6:00 PM.
  •  Residents living in homes on the odd numbered sides of   streets are asked to water lawns and gardens on odd  numbered days only.
  •  Residents residing on the even numbered sides of streets  are asked to water lawns and gardens on even  numbered days.
  • Install rain shutoff devices on automatic irrigation systems. If devices are already installed, check for proper operation.
  • Water conservation kits are available at no charge upon request.

 

PLEASE USE WATER WISELY!

 

Minutes of Water Commissioners 6/13/13 Meeting

6/13/13

The monthly meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners was held at the office at 5 PM with all members present, including newest member, Don Campbell, who replaced outgoing board member George Calise. Superintendent Chris Wiseman was also present.

The May minutes were approved.

The warrants were signed.

There were no coliform and no MTBE detects in April. Results from the annual nitrate testing showed an average of 1.76 ppm.

The following information was included in the Superintendent’s report:

PUMPAGE

May Pumpage                2013 –  18,047,000           2012 – 22,465,000

……………There were no service installations in May.

……………The A T & T cellular modifications are currently being done on the Main Street tank.

……………T-Mobile has agreed to follow our Standard, so that they may make their cellular modifications on the Main Street tank.

……………Preliminary information was obtained for the generator installation at Station #5.

……………The West Street tank interior was chemically cleaned and inspected in May. An inspection report is forthcoming. Within the next week, A T & T will finish their cellular modifications and cleaning will begin on the interior of the Main Street tank.

The annual bid opening for the installation of services and emergency repairs was held at 2:00 pm today. The two participants were:

Bortolotti Construction  – $29,950.79    Roderick Construction    – $33,852.54

Mr. Barnicle made a motion to award the bid for Fiscal Year 2014 to low bidder Bortolotti Construction.  Mr. Campbell seconded the motion and it was so voted.

Discussion was held on Open Cape’s plans to install fiber optics to our stations.  Mr. Wiseman was asked to contact Dan Vorthermes, the Open Cape representative, for the installation schedule, so we can move forward with the security system upgrade.

Discussion continued on the monitoring well that will be installed at Station #5.  Mr. Barnicle made a motion to award Horsley & Witten the contract to oversee the installation and testing of the new monitoring well at Station #5.  Mr. Campbell seconded the motion and it was so voted.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 11, 2013.

The meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm..

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Frederick Kiely, Chairman

Cc: Prudential Committee

 

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Agenda for 7/11/13 Water Commissioners Meeting

     COTUIT WATER DEPARTMENT      BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS 

                 MEETING DATE: Thursday July 11, 2013 @ 

                 4300 FALMOUTH ROAD ( RTE. 28) 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.  Water conservation declaration

b.  Commissioners meeting location