6-13-2025 DRINKING WATER NOTICE - UPDATE
To all users of the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion and Rochester located in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
This is an important notice - please translate it for anyone who does not understand English.
THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY. Mattapoisett River Valley Water District and member communities routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants to ensure the safety of the water supply. On 06/11/2025, we were notified by the Town of Fairhaven that a fecal indicator (E. coli) was detected in a raw water (untreated) sample collected on 06/10/2025 from the Tinkham lane Well.
During normal operations, water from the Tinkham lane Well is pumped from the ground and it is treated and disinfected at the MRV WTP for iron and manganese. D.E.P. REQUIREMENTS PER THE GROUND WATER RULE REQUIRED 5 CONSECUTIVE SAMPLES FROM THE TINKHAM LANE WELL, ALL 5 WELLSAMPLES WERE ABSENT FOR TOTALCOLIFORM AND E-COLI. THIS WILL ALLOW THE TOWNS OF MARION, MATTAPOISETTT AND ROCHESTER TO DISCONTINUE CHLORINATION WITH NO FURTHER ACTION TO BE TAKEN AT THIS TIME.
This is not an emergency YOU DO NOT need to boil your water or take other corrective actions.
The Town of Fairhaven did have a coliform positive sample at two of their sample locations and will be following up with repeat samples. The Town of Fairhaven has taken 6 repeat samples and are currently waiting for the results. Chlorination will continue to Fairhaven into next week as the town will be conducting some flushing in some areas. *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.*
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
This is not an emergency; you do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions.
E. coli is a fecal indicator, and it was detected in the raw water at the Fairhaven Tinkham Well before treatment. Even though the well with the fecal indicator is treated and the treated water did not contain any fecal indicators, the well is no longer in use at this time. 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.” The microbes that can produce these symptoms were not detected in the water after it was treated. Therefore, these health risks do not have the potential to be present. These symptoms are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you have specific health concerns, consult 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.
WHAT IS BEING DONE?
We continue to evaluate the situation including the following actions:
The Fairhaven Tinkham well was removed from service as a precautionary measure and will not be placed back in service until approved by MassDEP.
An investigation of the source of the raw water contamination will be done and once found corrected.
A full evaluation of the well and well house will take place to determine if there are any deficiencies and that they are corrected.
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.
This is NOT an emergency and you do not need to take corrective action.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Henri Renauld Superintendent Mattapoisett Water Dept. 508-758-4161 .Website https;//www.mattapoisett.net PWSID 4173001
Date distributed 6/13/25
Drinking Water Notice - Update 6-13-2025 (PDF)
6-12-2025 DRINKING WATER NOTICE
To all users of the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion and Rochester located in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
This is an important notice - please translate it for anyone who does not understand English.
THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY. Mattapoisett River Valley Water District and member communities routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants to ensure the safety of the water supply. On 06/11/2025, we were notified by the Town of Fairhaven that a fecal indicator (E. coli) was detected in a raw water (untreated) sample collected on 06/10/2025 from the Tinkham lane Well.
During normal operations, water from the Tinkham lane Well is pumped from the ground and it is treated and disinfected at the MRV WTP for iron and manganese. This water is delivered to you after treatment. Water samples from Marion and Mattapoisett water distribution systems were also collected on 06/10/2025. None of the water samples tested positive for Total Coliform or E. coli. Only the untreated sample from Fairhaven Tinkham Lane tested positive. .
This is not an emergency YOU DO NOT need to boil your water or take other corrective actions.
The Town of Fairhaven did have a coliform positive sample at two of their sample locations and will be following up with repeat samples. *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.*
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
This is not an emergency; you do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions.
E. coli is a fecal indicator, and it was detected in the raw water at the Fairhaven Tinkham Well before treatment. Even though the well with the fecal indicator is treated and the treated water did not contain any fecal indicators, the well is no longer in use at this time. 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.” The microbes that can produce these symptoms were not detected in the water after it was treated. Therefore, these health risks do not have the potential to be present. These symptoms are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you have specific health concerns, consult 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.