Andover 2020 Water Quality Report: No Violations

ANDOVER, MA — No violations were found in 2020 testing of Andover's drinking water, according to the recently published 2020 Water Quality Report.

The report is mandated by federal regulation of community water suppliers.

The town's water comes primarily from Haggets Pond and the surrounding watershed, with supplemental water from Fish Brook and the Merrimack River. The sources combine to provide up to 18 million gallons per day to the town.

>>Read the full report.

"Our compliance and water testing protocols are routinely monitored by state and federal regulators to certify that safe drinking water is delivered to all residents," the report reads. "It is with great pleasure that I report to you that we received a 2021 Public Water System Award from MassDEP, and are in good standing with all administrative authorities concerning our drinking water."

The town's water was assigned a "high susceptibility ranking" by the state for high threat land use, but according to testing, the water was safe.

No violations were found, including for concentrations of PFAs, also known as "forever chemicals."

But elevated levels were found for one unregulated chemical, sodium, which was found in the town's water at 63 to 67 parts per million, above the state guideline of 20 parts per million.

According to the report, sodium is naturally present in the environment and the town's raw water.

The state guideline of 20 ppm "is strictly a guideline and does not imply that a value greater than 200 ppm imposes a risk," the town said. "The water treatment process does not remove sodium from the water"

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.