As required by state regulation, this notice is to advise you that 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. 

We routinely monitor for drinking water contaminants. We collected thirty three (33) samples to test for the presence of coliform bacteria during August 2011. Three (3) of our samples showed the presence of total coliform bacteria. The standard is that no more than one (1) sample per month may test positive for coliform bacteria. 

What steps were taken to address the problem?

What did we do?

Upon notification of the original three (3) positive sample results, the Wayland Water Division collected repeat samples and increased the chlorine dosage rate at all treatment points. As a secondary precaution, new chlorine injection pumps were also installed.

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 have been at increased risk. These people may wish to [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 1 (800) 426-4791.

What does this notice mean?

This is an advisory notice of three positive tests indicating the presence of coliform bacteria last month.  This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. 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 system’s 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, and further testing shows that this problem has been resolved.

What happened?

The Wayland Water Division suspects, although we cannot be certain that, compromised sample bottles contributed to the positive coliform sample results. 

For more information, please contact Michael Hatch at (508) 358-3699 or 41 Cochituate Road Wayland.

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).   

This notice is being sent to you by Wayland Water Division.  PWS ID#:  3315000   Date distributed: 10/18/2011