Town Hall
One Liberty Lane
Norfolk, MA 02056
508-520-0058
We encourage public interest and participation in our community’s decisions affecting drinking water.
Things to Know
The Norfolk Water Division is on call 24 hours a day. In case of emergency call the Norfolk Police Department at 508-528-3206.
**************************************************************************************
Thursday, September 2, 2010: Water Main Break on Seekonk Street
Water has been turned off from the intersection of Main & Seekonk down to Campbell Street. Repairs are being made, and we do expect that the water will be turned back on by the end of the workday today. When the water is turned back on, please run COLD WATER ONLY from a bathtub tap for approximately 10 minutes, then all other cold water fixtures in the house for approximately 5 minutes, until the water runs clear. Please refer to the DPW web page at www.virtualnorfolk.org for more information or call the DPW office between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm, at 508-528-4990. Thank you for your patience.
DRINKING WATER NOTICE DRINKING WATER NEGATIVE FOR COLIFORM BACTERIA To all users of the Town of Norfolk DPW Water Division located in Norfolk, Massachusetts / PWS ID#: 2208000 / Posted August 10, 2010 This is an important notice - please translate it for anyone who does not understand English. |
Our water system routinely monitors for the presence of drinking water contaminants to ensure the safety of the water supply. On August 5, 2010, our water system was notified that a water sample collected on August 3, 2010 from Well 02G at Spruce Road Pump Station tested positive for E.coli Bacteria, which is a fecal indicator. Fecal indicators are used to detect ground water sources that may be susceptible to fecal contamination which may contain harmful viruses or bacteria. Spruce Road Well 02G is one of four (4) wells that supplies drinking water to our system. When we learned about the E.coli positive sample, the well was immediately shut off.
During normal operations, water from Spruce Road Pump Station is pumped from the ground and it is disinfected with ultraviolet radiation (UV) to kill viruses and bacteria, including E.coli. The treated water is delivered to you. Treated water samples from the water distribution system were also collected on August 3, 2010. None of these samples tested positive for E.coli. Only the untreated sample from Spruce Road Well 02G tested positive. Since the detection, chlorine was added as a precaution to provide additional disinfection to the drinking water. Sampling conducted throughout system for several days after the detection indicated that no types of coliform bacteria are present in Norfolk’s drinking water.~
A new regulation, the Ground Water Rule, requires us to notify you while we collect more samples, wait for the results, and inspect our water system to determine if a risk of fecal contamination exists.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? |
- You do not need to boil your water but you should discard all ice, beverages, formula and uncooked food products made with tap water collected on or before August 5, 2010.
- The only residents in the town affected by this notice are those connected to the Town of Norfolk Water Supply. Residents with private wells are not affected by this problem and need to take no action.
- E.coli is a fecal indicator and it was detected in the well water for your system. Even though the well with the fecal indicator is no longer in use, the USEPA requires us to provide you with this Notice and the following information on fecal indicators. “Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.” These symptoms can also be caused by issues unrelated to drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, or, if you have specific health concerns, you may want to discuss such
concerns with your doctor. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791
- 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.
While we continue to evaluate the situation and wait for the results of additional sampling to determine if a risk of contamination exists, we are doing the following:
In response to the detection, the Norfolk DPW Water Division started up the emergency chlorination systems located at Gold Street and Spruce Road and began adding sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) on a temporary basis to achieve a low chlorine residual in the water system. Low levels of chlorine and a slight discoloration may be detected in the water. Aquarium owners and users of kidney dialysis machines are advised to treat or filter the water before use. All repeat samples taken were NEGATIVE for any types of coliform bacteria. We will discontinue the addition of chlorine into the system, but customers may notice residuals for up to one week.
Our certified operator will be inspecting the area immediately adjacent to the well to determine the possible source of this contamination. If anything is found we will notify MassDEP immediately and take corrective actions. We are in contact with MassDEP who is evaluating the actions we are taking to ensure safe water is being delivered to you. If a risk of contamination exists, you will receive additional notification.
PWSID#: 2208000 Date Distributed: August 10, 2010 (modified from August 5, 2010 notice)
************************************************************************************
MANDATORY OUTSIDE WATER USE RESTRICTION:
Effective June 15, 2009
At their meeting on Monday, June 8, 2009 the Board of Selectmen voted to invoke Article VII: Land Use and Resource Protection; Section 3: Water Use Restriction Bylaw;
- Only Hand Held Hose Water Use is allowed until Further Notice
- NO Automatic Sprinkler Use
- NO Filling Swimming Pools
All Norfolk water customers should immediately comply with this Mandatory Water Use Restriction.
Restrictions are necessary due to a reduction in the withdrawal ability of the Spruce Road Well. Our pumping stations have been operating 24/7 to adequately meet the current demand.
Our priority is to maintain adequate tank levels and system pressure to assure public health and fire protection.
Thank you for your patience.
*********************************************************
MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Where does Norfolk's water come from:
We have two gravel packed wells, the Gold Street Well located near the intersection of Medway Street and Myrtle Street, and the Spruce Road Well located near Mirror Lake Avenue. Both wells draw from the Charles River watershed.
How often and what is the water tested for:
Secondary Contaminant (yearly) that includes calcium, iron, manganese, etc. Bacteriological Analysis (monthly) that includes Coliform, Fecal E. Coli. VOC, nitrate, nitrite, inorganics (yearly).
What is the pH of the water:
Gold Street Well 6.50, and Spruce Road Well 5.88. Adjusted to 7.00 with KOH (liquid Potassium Hydroxide 45%)
Hydrant flushing:
Is currently scheduled in the spring and fall of each year. Please see the "Hydrant Flushing" link noted above for specific flushing information.
When do water bills go out:
Semi-annually, in April and October.
When does the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) go out:
The CCR is mailed to water customers in the second quarter of each year, reporting data from the previous calendar year. In addition to this website, it is also posted on bulletin boards at the Town Hall, the Library, the Post Office and the DPW facility.
What are the water rates:
The water rates are as follows: Basic charge (5/8" meter) $50 per billing cycle -
0 to 15,000 gallons - $4.99 per1000 gallons
15,001 - 35,000 gallons - $5.99 per 1000 gallons
35,001 - 50,000 gallons - $7.78.per 1000 gallons
Over 50,000 gallons - $10.89 per 1000 gallons
What is the procedure to connect to Town water and how much is the tie-in fee:
The Demand on the System fee is $2,850.00 (1" service) paid to the Norfolk Department of Public Works - Water Division. The homeowner hires a contractor to install water service from the curb stop at the street to your house, and also hires a licensed plumber to make connections. Larger service fee schedule available upon request.
Are automatic sprinkler systems allowed:
NO - voted by the Board of Water Commissioners in 1991. Voted water restriction by-law in 1995.
Is there a water ban in effect:
The Norfolk Board of Public Works encourages voluntary water conservation for outside use. The Water Conservation Program will work on an odd/even system. Garden & lawn watering and car washing will be allowed between the hours of 6-8 A.M. and 6-8 P.M. according to the following schedule:
Odd - Even Outside Watering Schedule:
Odd Numbered Houses on odd calendar days
Even Numbered Houses on even calendar days
Residents will be informed in the event of a mandatory water ban.
(Please see above Mandatory Outside Water Use Restriction - effective June 15, 2009 until further notice)
| 
