News

The Department recently mailed a public notice with residents’ June water bills. The notice, which can be viewed here, explains an elevated level of disinfection byproducts in our water system. The notice is mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).

The Department shared the notice in an effort to inform residents that prolonged exposure to these compounds over a long period of time may cause health effects. Drinking water with the compounds at this level can still be consumed in moderation over short periods.

The Department adds chlorine to the water supply as a disinfectant. Chlorine has been used for over 100 years as the most common disinfection chemical used for water treatment. Using it creates safer water because it eliminates the possibility of pathogenic bacteria contaminating the water supply. However, the chlorine causes by-products, HAA5 chemicals, that the Department tries to minimize as much as possible.

The original language from MassDEP had an inaccurate link, which stated there are no filters for HAAs. The Department reached out to MassDEP and had this link corrected, which should be available next week.

Reverse osmosis and carbon filters can reduce HAA5 contaminants. Indoor refrigerator filters have carbon filters, which have been proven to reduce the amount of disinfection byproducts.

The Department takes all exceedances extremely seriously, and always tries to minimize the amount of chlorine used to reduce the amount of byproducts formed. This site-specific sampling exceedance does not represent the entire town’s water system on a daily basis. It is used as a worst-case scenario to help evaluate a treatment process. Another sample will be taken the first week in August in hopes that our results will be below the action level, as they have been previously.

Those with questions are encouraged to contact the Department at 978-352-5750.

The Georgetown Water Department recently released its 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, or Annual Water Quality Report, which represents all sampling results for the previous calendar year. All drinking water customers should have received a copy in the mail.

Those looking for a hard copy can obtain one at the following locations:

• Georgetown Water Department Office – 1 Moulton St.

• Georgetown Board of Health – Town Hall, 1 Library St.

• Georgetown Town Clerk’s Office – Town Hall, 1 Library St.

• Georgetown Selectperson’s Office – Town Hall, 1 Library St.

• Georgetown Peabody Library – 2 Maple St.

• Georgetown Council on Aging – 51 North St.

• Georgetown Highway Department – 203 East Main St.

• Georgetown Electric Department – 94 Searle St.

• Longview Apartments – Building 9 Patriot Lane

• Georgetown Housing Authority – 23 Trestle Way

• Georgetown U.S. Post Office – 64 Central St.

• Georgetown Police Department – 47 Central St.

The report can also be viewed on the Department’s website under “Your Water,” then “Annual Water Quality Reports.”

For more information regarding your water, visit georgetownwater.org!

Due to the Nor’easter, the Georgetown Water Department’s gate valve replacement project will be postponed to next week.

Work will take place in the area of Nelson Avenue, Moulton and Monroe Streets, Heather Road, and Madison and Railroad Avenues on Tuesday, May 27, and in some areas of Baldpate Road and all of Blueberry Lane on Wednesday, May 28.  As a result of this work, some residents may experience a slight interruption or shutdown of water services.

Service disruptions may be expected in these areas beginning at 9 a.m. through 3 p.m.

The Georgetown Water Department appreciates residents’ cooperation and asks that they do their best to avoid these areas during this time, as traffic could cause further delays to repairs.