Important Information about Your Drinking Water
This report contains important information about your drinking water.
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Elevated Disinfection Byproducts at Georgetown Water Department
Our water system exceeded a drinking water standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for a water disinfection byproduct (DBP). Testing results came from routine and repeat monitoring of drinking water contaminants from August to September 2026.
The level of total trihalomethane (TTHM) averaged at our system’s Patriot Lane Booster Station was 83 ug/L (parts per billion, ppb) The standard is 80 ug/L for TTHM.
The system concentrations are determined by averaging their concentrations in all samples collected at each sampling location for the past 12 months.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been an emergency, you would have been notified within 24 hours.
Chlorine is added to the drinking water after filtration for disinfection, as well as before filtration to remove Iron and Manganese. We closely monitor the chlorine addition to meet the disinfection requirements and dissolved Iron and Manganese removal. However, chlorine also interacts with natural material in the water to form DBP.
Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
In addition, young children (including infants), pregnant women, or those who may become pregnant may be potentially more susceptible to risks from exposures to chemicals, such as TTHM.
What is Being Done?
Since this sampling event, The Water Department has completely flushed the area and will be flushing the entire northern part of Town throughout October. This effort aims to reduce stagnation and the associated elevated water temperatures that have occurred during the summer months. We also continue to look for potential causes and reduce the amount of DBP precursors. Additionally, our new pretreatment filtration building is under construction which will improve our operations. Monthly updates on the new construction are posted on our website, www.georgetownwater.org.
For more information, contact your water system operator at 978-352-5750.
What should I do?
You can choose to limit the amount of tap water used if you are pregnant, may become pregnant or are giving water to young children[1]. For example, you can use water from another source, such as bottled water. You can let water sit in a pitcher overnight to allow the TTHM chemicals to leave the water. Most TTHM are volatile and will easily evaporate from the water at room temperature.
While breast milk can be a source of TTHM exposure for infants, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that nursing mothers continue to breastfeed their babies because of the numerous protective health benefits, despite the potential presence of environmental contaminants.
You can also use home water filters to reduce exposures. (See MassDEP’s TTHM in Drinking Water Information for Consumers Fact Sheet – https://www.mass.gov/media/2532601/download)
If you have questions about your water system’s operation, water quality monitoring, or response to this issue, please contact the system operator directly. If you have questions about the drinking water regulations or health risks posed by these contaminants, you can contact the MassDEP Drinking Water Program at: program.director-dwp@mass.gov or (617) 292-5770. If you have questions about specific symptoms, you can contact your doctor or other health care provider. If you have general questions about your health, you can contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-624-5757. Further information is available in the MassDEP’s TTHM in Drinking Water Information for Consumers Fact Sheet (https://www.mass.gov/media/2532601/download).
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 sent to you by The Georgetown Water Department. PWS ID#: 3105000 Date distributed: 10/20/2026.
Phone: 978-352-5750 Email: tlannan@georgetownwater.org
[1] https://www.mass.gov/doc/supporting-documentation-for-drinking-water-standards-and-guidelines/download