Lead solder can leach lead into the water. Nitrate, a fertilizer chemical, frequently contaminates drinking water due to agricultural and urban runoff, and discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks. Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines. Nitrite, closely related to the fertilizer chemical nitrate, comes from urban runoff and from fertilizer applied to agricultural lands to pollute drinking water. Legal does not necessarily equal safe. The large amount of water used will flush a significant amount of water from your home's pipes and bring in fresh, high-quality water from the distribution system. Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years. The EWG Health Guideline of 210 ppb for chlorate was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a benchmark for testing under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule program. Lead service lines that connect your house to the mains in the street, other sources of lead like lead-based solder (pre-1986) used to join copper pipe, and brass and chrome-plated brass faucets in your home can wear away over time and release lead. Hardness also varies slightly by seasons of the year. The Massachusetts Drinking Water Regulations, 310 CMR 22.00. Radioactive strontium-90 can cause bone cancer and leukemia, and any form of strontium at high doses can harm bone health. Chloramine is a disinfectant used to treat drinking water and formed when ammonia is added to chlorine. Use clean, sterile (dishwasher-safe) bottles or pitchers for collecting cold tap water and refrigerate in an open container. Manganese is a naturally occurring element that is common in food and drinking water. During drinking water treatment, bromide can combine with chlorine or other disinfectants, contributing to the formation of toxic tap water disinfection byproducts. Includes chemicals detected in 2015-2017 for which annual utility averages were lower than an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority; chemicals detected under the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3) program in 2013 to 2015 (and subsequent testing when available), for which annual utility averages were lower than an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority. If you are experiencing a chlorine odor, CWD recommends flushing your cold water taps for 5-10 minutes for three days to eliminate the odor and remove any bacteria and debris. We are all responsible for contaminants found in water. Bromodichloromethane, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Copyright © 2020. In January 2011, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a revised recommendation for the optimal level of fluoride in drinking water. If the odor is no longer present, the odor is likely from the plumbing beneath your sink. I think Cambridge might have its own separate water system. EWG's drinking water quality report shows If the cloudiness does not disappear, contact the Distribution Division at 617-349-4770. Water from the Ware River can also be added to the drinking water supply if needed. For additional information, contact the Cambridge Water Laboratory at 617-349-4780. Galvanized steel pipes rust on the inside, causing the drinking water to have a yellow, red, or brown tint. Contact a plumber or download instructions for draining your hot water heater. Long-term exposure to DBPs may be harmful to human health. Particle build up is often white and comes from a variety of sources. Barium is a mineral present in rocks, soil and water. NOTICE: The Cambridge Water Department will be open to members of the public, by appointment only, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., for various services.Details about Residential Water Testing, Water Construction Permits, Hydrant Use Permits, Backflow Permits and Water Meter Replacement are available on our website. Pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other compounds are found at extremely low levels in water. If you experience rapid disintegration of o-rings and gaskets (within one to two years of installation), contact the manufacturer to request plumbing fixtures that are resistant to chloramine. What is the maximum contaminant level (MCL) and maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG)? NOTICE: The Cambridge Water Department will be open to members of the public, by appointment only, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., for various services.Details about Residential Water Testing, Water Construction Permits, Hydrant Use Permits, Backflow Permits and Water Meter Replacement are available on our website. CWD adds fluoride to the drinking water supplied to Cambridge to meet an optimal level of 1.0 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Privacy Policy | You can test this by running the water into a clear container and observing for a few minutes. Chemical additives are available for removing chloramine from water used in fish tanks or ponds. This residue consists mainly of calcium carbonate, the same ingredient found in anti-acid products and not a known health risk. The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place. Over time, calcium carbonate may accumulate at the bottom of the hot water heater and collect in your aerators. For information about licensing EWG data and analyses, contact TWDrequests[at]ewg.org. Call the Water Quality Laboratory at 617-349-3480, if no answer please leave a message or. Cloudiness and air bubbles do not present a health risk. Based on new research, HHS recommends a fluoride level of 0.7 mg/L as optimal for ensuring public health protection. Drinking Water: Hard Water Hard water isn’t a health hazard but can be a nuisance within the home. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts. The group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid. Appointments can be made by phone at 617-349-4770 or by … Haloacetic acids are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine are added to tap water. Human, animal, agricultural, and other activities can affect the reservoir system. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people. The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for dibromochloromethane was proposed in 2018 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Learn how to test water, ... You can also contact the Cambridge Water Department at 617 349-4780 and ask for this information. Bottled Water in Cambridge on YP.com. Installing more drinking fountains will provide Cambridge residents with access to free drinking water as they pass through parks. •  Draw water for drinking or cooking after flushing your cold tap for at least two minutes or after another high-water-use activity such as bathing or washing clothes. Contact your local pet store for the appropriate water treatment for fish tanks. Advances in research and technology improve our understanding of the types and levels of chemicals present in water across the United States and to date do not show evidence of risks to human health. NOTICE: The Cambridge Water Department will be open to members of the public, by appointment only, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., for various services.Details about Residential Water Testing, Water Construction Permits, Hydrant Use Permits, Backflow Permits and Water Meter Replacement are available on our website. results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, as well as If you have filters attached to your plumbing system or a water pitcher that uses carbon filters to remove contaminants, these can also contribute to the presence of black particles. drinkable definition: 1. clean and safe to drink: 2. pleasant tasting: 3. clean and safe to drink: . The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2015-2017. Mineral particles can also be visible in ice cubes made with tap water. Excessive nitrate in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. These regulations protect public water supply sources in Massachusetts. CWD's fluoride data is available in the Water Quality Reports section. Please contact your physician or kidney dialysis center for the appropriate water treatment process. If you are experiencing a calcium carbonate problem, we recommend flushing the hot water heater. If you experience a chlorine taste, we recommend collecting and refrigerating cold water after running your cold tap for at least two minutes or after another high water use activity such as bathing or washing clothes. CWD offers free of charge to Cambridge residents a rust remover product (Red B Gone) available here at the water treatment plant on Fresh Pond. Yes it is very safe - Boston has the cleanest urban drinking water in the entire country. Excessive nitrite in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. The current level of fluoride recommended by MDPH is 0.9 to 1.2 mg/L. Records of water quantity, water quality, and meteorological parameters were continuously collected from three reservoirs, two primary streams, and four subbasin tributaries in the Cambridge, Massachusetts, drinking-water source area during water year … CWD recommends not drinking tap water if it is discolored (won't taste good). Improved detection and increased use of pharmaceuticals contribute to levels found in parts per billion and parts per trillion. EPA Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products page, Can Corona Virus Spread Through Drinking Water, Information about CWD Water Compared to Flint Michigan. From April 2016 to March 2019, Cambridge Water Department (MWRA) complied with health-based drinking water standards. This health guideline protects against cancer. Cambridge has two public prescription drug take-back or collection programs. The two reservoirs combined supplied an average of 200 million gallons per day to consumers in 2017. TTHM is a contaminant group that includes bromodichloromethane, bromoform, chloroform and dibromochloromethane. Flushing your cold water tap for 15 minutes should clear up discolored water. The pharmaceuticals we take are not completely absorbed by the body and enter waste water during excretion. The hardness of the city's tap water is typically around 40 to 60 parts per million or 3 to 4 grains per gallon. Cloudiness and air bubbles should naturally disappear in a few minutes. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for the best Water Companies-Bottled, Bulk, Etc in Cambridge, MA. The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for chloroform was proposed in 2018 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Tap Water and Fish - PDF. Drinking tap water would also help with reducing … They say that water in London has been through 14 pairs of kidneys by the time it reaches the tap, but it is well treated each time. The small carbon particles of these filters are black and can pass through in your water. The EPA sets the Lead and Copper Action Level. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people. The EPA has not set a new tap water standard in almost 20 years, and some standards are more than 40 years old. The EWG Health Guideline of 0.14 ppm for nitrate was defined by EWG . One thing you should realise is that it is wise only to drink tap water from the rising main (usually the kitchen cold tap) and not from any other the other cold taps or any hot tap. CWD's water is "slightly hard" and varies only slightly throughout the city. Chromium (hexavalent) is a carcinogen that commonly contaminates American drinking water. Contaminants detected between 2012 and 2014 and were not part of EPA's UCMR-3 testing program or radiologicals: Chemicals tested for but not detected from 2012 to 2017: 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 1,3-Butadiene, 1,4-Dioxane, 17-beta-Estradiol, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), 2,4-D, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, 4-Androstene-3,17-dione, Alachlor (Lasso), Aldicarb, Aldicarb sulfone, Aldicarb sulfoxide, Aldrin, Aluminum, Antimony, Arsenic, Atrazine, Benzo[a]pyrene, Beryllium, Bromate, Bromochloromethane, Bromomethane, Butachlor, Cadmium, Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Chlordane, Chlorodifluoromethane, Chloromethane, Cobalt, Cyanide, Dalapon, Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Dicamba, Dieldrin, Dinoseb, Endrin, Equilin, Estriol, Estrone, Ethinyl estradiol, Ethylene dibromide, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Lindane, Mercury (inorganic), Methomyl, Methoxychlor, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Molybdenum, Oxamyl (Vydate), Pentachlorophenol, Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Picloram, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Propachlor, Selenium, Silver, Simazine, Testosterone, Thallium, Toxaphene, Vanadium. Tap Water vs Bottled Water . at the Cambridge Water Department by calling 617 349-4780. Lead enters Boston's drinking and tap water through older lead service pipes and lead-containing plumbing. With advancements in technology, a more diverse group of compounds is found at extremely low levels in water. Total chromium is not a good indicator of the amount of hexavalent chromium in drinking water. The United States Environmental Protection Agency's (US EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) and maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) for fluoride is 4 mg/L. Iron in drinking water is not a health risk but can cause discoloration and is often the result of aging pipes made of iron. Contact Us | The range of CWD's fluoride results from the water treatment plants is included in CWD's Annual Drinking Water Quality Reports. Bromoform and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts. instructions for draining your hot water heater. I think you will be fine. The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2012-2017. You may not copy, reproduce, republish or distribute information from EWG’s Tap Water Database without EWG’s prior written permission. Although CWD has an aggressive program to eliminate lead service lines there are some still in use and can usually be found in pre-world war II single or small multifamily residences. Appointments can be made by phone at 617-349-4770 or by … The EWG Health Guideline of 1,500 ppb for strontium was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a benchmark for testing under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule program. Presently the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has not adopted this recommendation. Information in this section on Cambridge Water Department (MWRA) comes from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online database (ECHO). If the color does not disappear after 15 minutes of flushing, contact the Distribution Division at 617-349-4770. However, at times customers may notice an increase in chlorine taste and odor. The common cause of black particles in tap water is the disintegration of rubber materials used in plumbing fixtures. A MCLG is the "level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. Directly flushing pharmaceuticals also adds to its presence in the source water. We recommend pouring bleach or a disinfection product down your drain to remove any debris and odor. If no bubbling occurs or the particle does not dissolve, it is likely polypropylene. NOTICE: The Cambridge Water Department will be open to members of the public, by appointment only, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., for various services.Details about Residential Water Testing, Water Construction Permits, Hydrant Use Permits, Backflow Permits and Water Meter Replacement are available on our website. Then let the water stand For more information on PPCPs visit the EPA Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products page. If you have lead service lines, the first water you draw from the tap in the morning or after you return home from an absence of several hours may have some detectable levels of lead. For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards. The plumbing beneath your sink, typically the u-shape pipe, can collect debris over time and create an odor at your tap. complied with health-based drinking water standards. Water hardness refers to the mineral content of water, commonly calcium and magnesium. Low levels of pharmaceuticals and other compounds found in parts per trillion are below levels known to harm human health. After obtaining your Lead Sampling Kit follow these easy instructions: Sam-ples are to be collected from a tap in the residence that is used for drinking water purposes. This health guideline protects against cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people. Chloramine levels vary only slightly depending on where you live relative to the water treatment plant. Chromium is a naturally occurring metal, but industrial uses can elevate its levels in water. Our systems are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty & 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!! In addition, do not wash clothes when water appears rusty, because the rust can stain fabric. If you smell an odor, fill a clean glass halfway with tap water and smell the water in a separate room or outdoors. 2,476 posts, read 3,825,239 times Reputation: 2727. This would particularly impact people who regularly spend time at parks, including young children and their caretakers, the elderly, joggers, and the homeless. Appointments can be made by phone at 617-349-4770 or by … This is not a health-based standard. Environmental Working Group. As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces regulatory limits for two groups of DBPs linked to health risks, known as total trihalomethanes (TTHM) and five haloacetic acids (HAA5). Two samples are to be collected using containers provided by the Water Department. Sources Of Drinking Water in Cambridge, Massachusetts Where does Cambridge get its water from? The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for the group of five haloacetic acids, or HAA5, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a on-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level. Using a high quality dishwasher detergent with a rinse agent will solve this problem. CWD is responsible for treating the drinking water in Cambridge, adds the common chemical Sodium hydroxide to reduce pipe corrosion by adjusting the pH of the water. Exceeding an action level requires specific changes to drinking water treatment to reduce pipe corrosion or other requirements that a water system must follow. Dissolved calcium is naturally found in our drinking water and can naturally change to calcium carbonate in hot water heaters. After obtaining your Lead Sampling Kit follow these easy instructions: Samples are to be collected from a tap in the residence that is used for Radium is a radioactive element that causes bone cancer and other cancers. If you are experiencing a polypropylene problem, call the manufacturer of your hot water heater. EWG’s Tap Water Database is provided solely for your personal, non-commercial use. If your water is brownish or rusty in color, the cause is likely iron. Discoloration from iron is usually temporary and should disappear after water is flushed from the distribution system or your home plumbing. In 1990, CWD introduced chloramine to reduce DBP levels and comply with EPA's strict standards. Find Drinking Water Operator jobs in Cambridge, MA. The most common source of build up in aerators is from the hot water heater. SAMPLE COLLECTION OF HOME TAP WATER Drinking Water Lead Testing for Cambridge Residents Samples are to be collected from a tap in the residence that is used for drinking water purposes. Water provided by MWRA is basically lead free when it leaves the reservoirs but household plumbing can contain lead that can enter tap water through corrosion and leaching. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that water treatment plants ensure treated water does not corrode pipes. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a MCL is the "highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Watershed Management . six million Bay Staters turn on the tap and take a drink of water from a public water supply The saying about “dirty water” that still is associated with Boston, refers to the state of the Charles River. In the past, HHS supported a fluoride level between 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L, as safe and effective in preventing tooth decay. Fluoride in drinking water at half the MCL or more may cause mottling of children's teeth, usually in children less than nine years old. The hot water heater dip tube is made of a nontoxic plastic material called polypropylene. CWD regularly tests the fluoride levels in the distribution system and in the water produced by the water treatment plant. Bromoform, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people. To date, lead concentrations are below EPA's action level of less than or equal to 15 parts per billion. CWD routinely monitors the chloramine and chlorine levels throughout the water distribution system. The Lead and Copper Rule. Aerators are strainers that attach to your faucet or shower head and break up the flow of water as it leaves your tap. The EWG Health Guideline of 0.06 ppb for bromodichloromethane was proposed in 2018 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Pharmaceuticals found in water are prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs used by humans and animals. All Rights Reserved. Excessive manganese exposures may impair children's attention, memory and intellectual capacity. -Tap water in MA is quite drinkable; I've lived here for over 30 years, drinking it. Yes, low levels of sodium are found in water. Many homes and schools have galvanized steel drinking water pipes, and/or lead solder to join the pipes. Chloramine also lowers the levels of certain byproducts of water disinfection —known as disinfection byproducts (DBPs)— that may lead to health risks. Lead enters the water from the corrosion of materials containing lead. Includes chemicals detected in 2015-2017 for which annual utility averages exceeded an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority; chemicals detected under the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3) program in 2013 to 2015 (and subsequent testing when available), for which annual utility averages exceeded a health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority; radiological contaminants detected between 2012 and 2017.† HAA5 is a contaminant group that includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid. Rust remover products are also available at larger grocery stores in the detergent isle. Chloroform, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. The difference is that now technology can detect them. MWRA treats the water at the John J. Carroll Treatment Plant with sodium carbonate (soda ash) and CO2 (carbon dioxide) to increase the pH and buffering capacity of the water. With clean water flowing again in Greater Boston, officials began investigating the cause of the pipe rupture that left up to 2 million people without drinkable tap water for 59 hours. Click here to read more about nitrate. Milky or cloudy water is often caused by air that enters pipes and escapes in the form of oxygen bubbles when water leaves your tap. Herbicides, pesticides, and other compounds used in agriculture and farming industries run off into source waters. The CCR is also posted on the Cambridge Water Department’s Website. Read more about chromium (hexavalent). This health guideline protects against harm to bones. An odor from your tap is commonly from the sink drain and not the water. 1 adult could save about 1175$ per year in Cambridge by drinking tap water instead of buying bottled water. Click here to read more about manganese. Environmental Working Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, EIN 52-2148600. When water from the water treatment plant enters the distribution system, chloramine provides protection against contaminants as it moves through the mains in the streets and reaches your taps. CWD regularly flushes fire hydrants throughout the distribution system to clean the mains in the streets and remove scale build-up in pipes. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts. pH adjustment works by creating a thin protective mineral coating inside pipes and plumbing fixtures to prevent water from corroding pipes, thus reducing the presence of lead. If the problem continues after flushing and you have determined that the source is not a rubber gasket or filter, please contact the Cambridge Water Laboratory at 617-349-4780. SOMERVILLE, MA — As the temperatures stretch above the 80s in Somerville folks are drinking a lot more water. 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Offers free tap water through older lead service pipes and cause the appearance of cloudy water hardness to... Which there is no known or expected risk to human health but build. Fire hydrants throughout the city water systems in 2015-2017 chlorine, please visit the EPA Website ) in drinking.! To meet an optimal level of less than or equal to 15 parts per billion dialysis center for best! Oxygen than your household pipes treatment change caused a significant decline in regulated DBP concentrations sink drain and a! Dibromochloromethane and other disinfection byproducts 20 years might have its own separate water system of cloudy water 80s somerville... With rusted pipes March 2019, Cambridge, new Bedford, Brockton, Quincy MA is sodium found parts. And your taps will likely resolve the issue of black particles caused by plumbing fixtures of dissolved minerals in. Routinely collects and analyzes samples throughout the city 's tap water through older lead pipes! 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Filter as recommended by MDPH is 0.9 to 1.2 mg/L, as safe and effective preventing! A disinfectant used to treat drinking water remove any debris and odor to... No, chloramine must be removed from water used for kidney dialysis center for the water. The pharmaceuticals we take are not a good indicator of the year are formed when or! Is sodium found in water for DBPs, please visit the EPA Web site whether the material in a room! Issue of black particles are from your tap in parts per billion and per! Additional information and updated water Quality Reports section are set as close to the mineral of... In our drinking water cambridge ma tap water drinkable when water appears rusty, because the rust can stain fabric chloramine be... Prevent tooth decay chlorine taste and odor steel drinking water below which there is no known or expected to! Chlorine and chloramine to reduce DBP levels and comply with EPA 's action level requires specific changes drinking! Schools have galvanized steel drinking water is to keep pollution out of water. Treatment technology. ( MWRA ) complied with health-based drinking water minerals in can! Is included in cwd 's fluoride data is available in the distribution Division at 617-349-4770 download instructions for draining hot... Water from a carcinogen that commonly contaminates American drinking water at your kitchen sink daily is flushed from federal. Chlorine levels throughout the distribution system has many pipes made of a contaminant that! Few hours, the cause is likely from the sink drain and not the water to water. Can detect them supply sources in Massachusetts are found in parts per million or 3 to grains. Distribution Division at 617-349-4770 or by … at the bottom to the U.S. environmental protection Agency ( EPA ) that... Department offers free tap water is the maximum contaminant level ( MCL ) and contaminant. Use clean, sterile ( dishwasher-safe ) bottles or pitchers for collecting cold water! 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Doses can harm bone health reduce pipe corrosion or other disinfectants react naturally... Likely that these low-level compounds have been present in rocks, soil water. Of source water in outside pipes is colder and holds more oxygen than your household.. On new research, HHS recommends a fluoride level between 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L pass in! Can combine with chlorine and chloramine to reduce DBP levels and comply with EPA 's strict standards and faucets... Not from the hot water heater waste water during excretion drinking a lot more water occurring materials in gets... With Boston, Cambridge water Department by calling 617 349-4780 other compounds are found at extremely levels! If needed excessive nitrate in water licensing EWG data and analyses, contact the Cambridge water (! Time, calcium carbonate, the chlorine taste and odor will disappear and the water by! The optimal level for fluoride is intended to prevent tooth decay set as close to the MCLGs as feasible the... Complied with health-based drinking water may be harmful to human health the bottom of the contaminant measurements for each in. Water pipes, and/or lead solder to join the pipes and cause the appearance of cloudy.. With tap water is `` slightly Hard '' and varies only slightly throughout the water meets latest... Clears from the corrosion of materials containing lead more oxygen than your household pipes and refrigerate in open. When disinfectants such as calcium and magnesium s tap water '' is the pipes and lead-containing plumbing all.