The Saugus Review

The boil-water order that was announced on Saturday as a result of an interrupted by a rupture of the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel on that same day is now lifted for all 30 MWRA communities east of Weston.

It was declared early this Tuesday that the water flowing from Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) communities is now safe and clean again and can be used for all purposes.

Gov. Deval Patrick said that thanks to the efforts of MWRA and the whole team of state agencies the people of Boston and the neighbouring communities can once again rely on the safety of their tap water for drinking.

The boil water order for Saugus was lifted later than other communities however, because of a delay in getting back water test results. Over 800 water samples at 482 locations have been taken in affected areas and those samples have been tested by MWRA under conditions agreed-upon with the Department of Environmental Protection. The tests returns have shown no contamination that could threaten public health and so they went ahead with the decision for the boil order to be lifted.

There are guidelines however before residents use their water. People are advised to “flush” their water to clear plumbing of potentially contaminated water. Everything from building water lines including interior and exterior faucets, showers, water and ice dispensers, water-treatment units and other appliances should be flushed.

Here are the details of how to properly flush each item:

Cold-water faucets should be run with tap water until the water feels cold for 1 minute or more before drinking, brushing teeth or using the water for cooking. Also, make sure you have gotten rid of any baby formula or other foods prepared with water on the days of the boil order.

Hot Water Faucets on the other hand should be left running for 15 minutes (for a typical household 40-gallon) and the hot water tank should be left on for 30 minutes if the tank is 80-gallons or larger. Water from the “hot” faucet should never be used for drinking, cooking, or other internal-consumption purposes. After the flushing procedure, hot water is then safe to use for washing hands, and for hand-washing of dishes, pots and pans, etc.  Following the flushing of the hot water pipes, Dishwashers should be run empty once.

As for refrigerators, it’s water dispensers should be flushed by at least one quart of water and ice cube dispensers should be emptied of the ice that was made during the boil-order time frame. The same goes for any ice made after 24 hours of the order lifting.

Get rid of any water used in humidifiers, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), oral, medical or health-care devices, and wash the device with clean water.

If you experience a lack of water pressure and/or discolored water do not worry as this is an expected result of the flushing of the lines by residents and the flushing of the hydrants. It does not pose a health risk. For further questions, contact the Marblehead Water Department, 781-631-0102.

Boston Area residents, including residents of Saugus, Massachusetts can now breath a collective sigh of relief after Governor Deval Patrick announced that the boil-water order has been lifted during a press conference today.

“If there were a sink in here, I would take a glass from the tap and drink it myself. I’m very confident,” Patrick said.

This announcement comes after workers repaired the water main rupture in Weston, a crucial link in the MWRA system, that had caused the crisis. To avoid similar problems in the future, the Water Infrastructure Finance Commission was created in hopes to find solutions to fix old pipes, water filtration plants, and monitoring equipment.

This incident serves as a reminder to over 2 million people how dependent we are on our infrastructure and how much we take it for granted. “People turn on the tap, and they don’t think about where their water comes from and the cost that goes into maintaining clean water. If anything comes out of what happened this weekend, I hope that people are thinking about that more,” said the commission’s chairman, Senator James B. Eldridge.

Below, is instructions from the office of the Governor on how you can clear contaminated water from your water supply:

From the Office of the Governor

Residents are advised to “flush” their water following the lifting of the boil order in order to clear plumbing of potentially contaminated water. Flushing your household and building water lines includes interior and exterior faucets; showers; water and ice dispensers; water treatment units, etc.

• Cold Water Faucets: Run tap water until the water feels cold, 1 minute or more, before drinking, tooth brushing, or using for food preparation.
• Hot Water Faucets: To clear hot water pipes and water heater of untreated water, turn on all hot water faucets and flush for a minimum of 15 minutes for a typical household 40-gallon hot water tank and 30 minutes for an 80-gallon hot water tank or larger. Never use water from the “hot” faucet for drinking, cooking, or other internal-consumption purposes. After this flushing, hot water is then safe to use for washing hands, and for hand-washing of dishes, pots and pans, etc.
• Refrigerators: Water dispensers from refrigerators should be flushed by at least one quart of water.
• Dishwashers: After flushing hot water pipes and water heater, run dishwasher empty one time.
• Humidifiers: Discard any water used in humidifiers, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), oral, medical or health care devices, and rinse the device with clean water.
• Food and baby formula: Be sure you have discarded any baby formula or other foods prepared with water on the days of the boil order. (If unsure of the dates contact your water Department.)
• Ice cubes: Automatic ice dispensers should be emptied of ice made during the boil order. Then, discard ice made over an additional 24 hour period to assure complete purging of the water supply line.

Due to the flushing of the lines by residents and the flushing of the hydrants, some customers may experience a lack of water pressure and/or discolored water. However, this is an expected result and does not pose a health risk. Contact your local Water Department if you have any questions.

Additional information for food establishments can be found at www.mwra.com.

The Town of Saugus and other communities served by the MWRA are presently under a Boil Water Advisory

What you need to do under a boil water advisory:

Homes:

• Use boiled or bottled water only for drinking, cooking, making ice, washing fruits and vegetables, brushing teeth, and making baby formula.
• Water should be brought to a rapid, rolling boil and boiled for 1-3 minutes prior to use.
• Breast feed your baby or use ready-made formula. If you must use water to make formula, use bottled water. If you don’t have bottled water, use water that has been rapidly boiled for at least 1-3 minutes.

Restaurants and other Food Service Establishments must take the following precautions:

If your facility has no running water and/or toilets that will not flush, you MUST CLOSE business operations immediately.

All Establishments MUST FOLLOW these precautions during the Boil Water

Advisory:

• All water provided to customers for drinking must be commercially bottled or boiled water.
• All foods that must be washed, rinsed or soaked must be done with commercially bottled or boiled water. If you use boiled water, allow it to cool before use.
• All water used as an ingredient in food products must be commercially bottled water or water that has been boiled rapidly for 5 minutes. Be sure to let water cool before use.
• When preparing food which will be boiled in water, you may do so as long as the water is brought to a rapid, rolling boil for at least 5 minutes. Be sure to let water cool before use.
• Beverage (soda and iced tea) machines used to dispense cold beverages MUST NOT be used. The lines connected directly to the tap water for mixing must be disconnected.
• Beverages made with water – including post mix carbonated beverages, auto-fill coffee makers, instant hot water dispenser, juice, tea, etc:
• Discontinue use of post-mix carbonated beverage machine, auto-fill coffee makers, instant hot water heaters, etc. using auto-fill.
• All ice must be made with commercially bottled water or must originate from a commercial ice supply distributor. Discard all ice from automatic ice machines.
• You can use tap water for hand washing. In addition to using soap we are ordering the use of a commercial hand sanitizers used after washing hands. If water that has been boiled 5 minutes is used, be sure that the water is cooled before use.
• All equipment and utensils must be washed and sanitized with bottled or boiled water, or Use the existing automatic dish machine or the 3-compartment sink. Make certain that the sanitization step is being properly conducted (sanitizer concentration/temperature).

Nursing Homes / Personal Care / Daycare Facilities:

Based upon the type of facility and whether food service operations are taking place, refer to the above-mentioned measures. You should also observe the following precautions:

• Do not drink from water fountains.
• Monitor patients/clients/children closely for signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.
• All employees with diarrhea illness should be regulated by standard rules of exclusion from work.
• Do not use un-boiled tap water to treat skin wounds, and in nursing homes, restrict burn patients and patients with open sores or wounds from whirlpool treatments.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has set up a 211 phone line for questions or concerns regarding the Boil Water Advisory.

For more information regarding the status of repairs to the broken water main visit www.Mass.gov, www.mwra.gov, or www.Saugus-ma.gov.