Another Chance for Water District Customers to Avoid Door-to-Door Inspections

Dedham, MA - Dedham-Westwood Water District (DWWD) announced this week that it is extending the deadline to January 31, 2024, for its customers in Westwood and Dedham who have not yet responded to its customer survey for information on the materials used in customers' water service lines. For survey non-respondents, door-to-door inspections will take place next month in February, announced DWWD. 

The January 31st response deadline and February inspections each represent extensions. Door-to-door inspections for non-respondents were previously announced to take place in January after an initial deadline of December 31, 2023 for submitting survey responses.

 DWWD plans to send out a third postcard to non-respondents in the mail this week regarding how to complete the survey.

 “We’re trying to give customers another opportunity to self-report what type of material their water service line made out of before having our staff and a third-party engineering firm conduct inspections," said DWWD Executive Director Blake Lukis. He noted that 22 percent of the water system's 13,500 service line connections have so far been inventoried.

Tools are available to help customers complete the project, including magnets and mini screwdrivers (while supplies last) at the District’s Headquarters, 50 Elm Street, Dedham. Additionally, an informational guide, video, and more are available on the DWWD website.

The Water Service Line Inventory Project is being conducted to comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) regulatory requirements.

The EPA announced the LCRR in December 2021 to better protect communities from exposure to lead in drinking water. The revised rule will require public water suppliers to create a lead service line inventory and replacement schedule by October 2024. 

In addition, sampling protocols have changed to better meet the science behind how lead and copper enter the water, and there are increased sampling requirements for schools and daycare facilities, which were previously not included in sampling programs.

Thanks to Dedham-Westwood Water District for sharing this news with Westwood Minute.

Updated 1/11/2024 at 10:19 p.m.

For local news, subscribe to Westwood Minute's free newsletter!

You may also be interested in:

- Seeking to Avoid Door-to-Door Inspections, DWWD Urges Customers to Participate in Water Service Line Inventory Project

- Westwood's Arcadia Road Flooded after Tuesday's Rains 

- Grant Awarded to Norwood for Stormwater Infrastructure is a Step Toward Avoiding the Type of Flooding that Closed Norwood Hospital

- How Much Snow Fell Overnight in the Westwood Area? (Published January 8, 2024)