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Elevated HAA5 levels continue to be found in Housatonic Water Works water supply

In a January 10 letter to its customers, Housatonic Water Works announced that water from the system's 314 North Plain Road location exceeded the maximum contaminant level for haloacetic acids during testing in the fourth quarter of 2022. This is the first time that the MCL determination has been made at the location.

Housatonic — In a letter to customers on January 10, Housatonic Water Works announced that its water system exceeded a drinking water standard when it comes to haloacetic acids (HAA5) during testing in the fourth quarter of 2022. The company has come under fire from residents and town officials for quite some time due to its ongoing water quality issues.

According to the letter from the company, during fourth quarter testing, the level of HAA5 averaged 66 micrograms per liter at the water system’s 314 North Plain Road location. The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for HAA5, as set by both the federal and state Department of Environmental Protection is 60 micrograms per liter. The company notes that the North Plain Road location was added to its required sampling in January 2022, and it is the first time that the MCL determination has been made at the location.

“The use of MassDEP’s DBP (Disinfection by-products) sample at 314 North Plain Road was warranted because HWW was not able to provide HAA5 laboratory sample results for the fourth quarter of 2022 [because] the testing lab reported the bottle broke while in the lab’s possession,” the company stated in the press release. “The amount of disinfectant used impacts the formation of HAA5, and there is a balance required between using chlorine to control pathogenic microorganisms and the undesirable byproducts of the chlorination process. In response to the HAA5 levels observed, we have since reduced the chlorine dosing while maintaining more than enough chlorine residual to meet and exceed all disinfection requirements. We are also preparing a required engineering report on additional actions, including treatment changes, to reduce the formation of DBPs in our drinking water.”

In the letter, the company notes that, while it is not an emergency, “Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years 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 HAA5.” The company further stated in the letter, “In response to the higher levels of HAA5 experienced in recent years and these MCL exceedances, HWW is completing an evaluation for reducing these compounds in the future. HWW expects to submit their proposed corrective actions to MassDEP next month for their consideration and approval.”

One day later on Jan. 11, MassDEP Municipal Services Chief Deirdre Doherty wrote to the company requiring it to “evaluate the possible causes of the exceedance and take the necessary corrective actions to try and avoid a future MCL exceedance.” Doherty wrote that the company must complete an operational evaluation reporting form and send it to MassDEP by March 15. “The MCL exceedances and other violations will be addressed in a separate correspondence,” Doherty wrote in the letter.

Meanwhile, at the Great Barrington Selectboard’s regular meeting on Monday, January 23, board member Eric Gabriel continued to express his ongoing frustrations with the company and the situation. “Just last week, I got another letter from MassDEP about the high levels of HAA5 in the water supply,” Gabriel said. “I just printed out all the [similar letters] that came this past year. I am hoping to get town staff to have a letter drawn up to MassDEP asking for them to elevate their oversight of this situation. It just seems like there’s been a lot of mailings back and forth, but personally, I don’t feel that there’s been any real action on it.”

During the January 9 Selectboard meeting, Town Manager Mark Pruhenski told the board that HWW did not give permission to town consultants Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc. of Latham, N.Y. to inspect its facilities in order to appraise Housatonic Water Works water systems. At the Jan. 23 meeting, Pruhenski told the Selectboard that HWW representatives did respond to both the town and Raftelis. “We provided the names of the staff from Raftelis who will be on-site for the inspection,” Pruhenski said. “At this point, we appear to be on schedule for presenting a report with representatives from Raftalis by mid to late February.”

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