MassDEP Assesses Town of Tewksbury $1,150 Penalty
Orders Reduction of Disinfection Byproducts in Water Supply System

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) assessed a $1,150 penalty on the Town of Tewksbury for water supply violations, specifically, elevated levels of disinfection byproducts called total trihalomethanes (TTHM), which are formed during the water treatment process. 

As of January 10, 2009, the town recorded a running annual average of 83 parts per billion (ppb) of TTHM, which exceeds the allowable limit of 80 ppb.

In addition to the penalty, the town of Tewksbury agreed to submit to MassDEP a plan and schedule to lower its TTHM. That plan, which calls in part for reducing the dosage of chlorine for pre-chlorination, and has been submitted and subsequently approved by MassDEP.

“The town has moved quickly to remedy this situation,” said Richard Chalpin, director of MassDEP’s Northeast Regional Office in Wilmington. “Every public water supply has a responsibility to ensure the water they provide to their customers is safe to drink and MassDEP will ensure that those responsibilities are met.”

While disinfectants are widely used and are effective in controlling many microorganisms, the interaction of these products with natural organic matter in the water can form disinfection byproducts such as TTHM. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that TTHM is potentially carcinogenic if ingested over a period of many years.

MassDEP has agreed to suspend the entire penalty pending full compliance with the order within one year.

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