The Water Resources Department had a Total coliform violation for the month of July.

We routinely sample 13 sites in the City each week and another 13 per month for a total of 65 samples per month. We were notified on July 24th that of the first 13 samples we brought to the lab there were 4 detects of coliform bacteria. Two of the sites with detects had a good chlorine residual at the time of sampling. Per procedure, the four samples were also analyzed for fecal coliform and the fecal results were all negative. DEP was immediately notified of the detects and the Water Resources Department collected repeat samples at each of the four locations plus an upstream and downstream sample at each location. All of these repeat samples came back negative for coliform bacteria. One routine sample on July 30th was also reported as positive for Total coliform. The fecal result was negative and the repeat samples were all negative for Total coliform.

The drinking water standard for coliform states that no more than 5% of samples collected in a month can be positive for Total coliform. For July 2008, 5.6% of the samples collected were positive for Total coliform. Violation of the standard requires public notification, and notices are being mailed to each water customer on Monday, August 25th (click on link below for copy of public notice). Coliforms are an indicator organism and are not harmful in themselves. The detection of them in the distribution system indicates that there may be a problem with our treatment process or our distribution pipes.

The problem seems to have resolved itself and we have no explanation for the cause.

The Westfield Evening News misquoted us and the paper today, August 21st, says that we detected fecal coliform in the water. This is incorrect. Fecal coliform was never detected in the system.

The Board of Water Commissioners, meeting in regular session on July 18, 2007, voted to increase the City's water rate from $2.08 per 1,000 gallons consumed to $2.255 per 1,000 gallons consumed. The Board took this action after much thought, study, and deliberation. This increase was necessary to provide additional revenue to the department to cover an added $200,000.00 per year In-Lieu-of-Tax payment to the City and the expiration of a State $280,000.00 per year grant payment.

The Board of Water Commissioners, meeting in regular session on March 14, 2007, voted to revise the Water Resources Department's Cross Connection Rules and Regulations by adding the following section:

XIV. Residential Cross Connection Control

The Department is concerned with the potential for back-flow into the public water supply system from those residential customers having lawn sprinkler and irrigation systems and other miscellaneous residential water uses. The Water Resources Department's Residential Cross Connection Control Policy is outlined below.

1. Lawn Sprinkler and Irrigation Systems

Where a single or multi family residential customer served by the public water supply system has or proposes to install a lawn sprinkler or irrigation system, the minimum required backflow protection to prevent backsiphonage shall be the pressure vacuum breaker. Pressure vacuum breakers (PVB) shall be located, specified, installed, maintained and accessible for inspection in a manner acceptable to the Water Resources Department and the City of Westfield plumbing or building code enforcement official. The minimum height of a PVB shall be twelve (12) inches higher than the highest downstream sprinkler head.

For the residential irrigation systems described below, the public water system shall be protected against backflow by requiring the customer to perform one of the following:

a. Install an approved RPZ device on those systems where provisions are made for chemical injection.

NOTE: The Water Resources Department may allow protective devices to be installed in the internal supply pipes to a lawn sprinkler or irrigation system provided that there a no other hazards associated with a residential user. Containment at the service connection with an approved DCVA or RPZ shall be required in any other case.

2. Miscellaneous Residential Water Uses

Any activity, situation, or use of water which establishes a degree of hazard within a single or multi family residence equivalent to that of a commercial user shall be required to have the appropriate backflow protection devices. Examples include but are not limited to customers utilizing boiler feed corrosion inhibitors, antifreeze loops, single wall heat exchangers, etc.

3. Residential Threaded Hose Connections

Residential properties are required to have hose bib vacuum breaker backflow prevention on all threaded hose connections.

4. New Construction

All new residential construction shall have a residential dual check valve installed at the water meter.