Water quality is incredibly important, impacting both our health and environment. With much of Massachusetts relying on ground and surface waters for drinking, it's critical that we understand and monitor what is in our water. Water Quality Testing in Massachusetts provides insights into potential contaminants while helping ensure safety and accessibility for the public.

In this post we’ll explore key aspects of water quality testing across the state. We’ll look at common contaminants tested for, what various tests tell us, who conducts testing, and how results impact drinking water safety and recommendations. We’ll also consider emerging testing technologies and what the future may hold for better understanding our water resources in Massachusetts.

Common Water Contaminants Tested For

Water Quality Testing in Massachusetts evaluates water samples for a wide array of potential inorganic, organic, biological, pharmaceutical and radioactive contaminants. While not all contaminants need to be tested for every time, here are some of the most common:

Microorganisms Testing frequently looks at disease-causing microorganisms like E. coli, Legionella bacteria, Cryptosporidium and Giardia intestinal parasites. These can originate from animal/human waste entering water systems.

Inorganic Chemicals

This includes metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, copper, chromium and cadmium. It also tests for minerals like fluoride, nitrates/nitrites and salts. Sources range from natural mineral deposits to corrosion, industrial waste or agricultural runoff.

Disinfectants Testers examine the levels of disinfectants like chlorine, added to drinking water to kill microbes. Overly high levels can have health impacts while too low may compromise disinfection.

Organic Chemicals Hundreds of volatile/synthetic organic chemicals from pesticides to solvents to byproducts from water disinfection are tested for. Some originate from spills or pollution while others leach from plastics/other materials in distribution systems.

Radiological Contaminants Radioactive substances like uranium, radium and radon are natural but can leach into aquifers/reservoirs from surrounding geology at concerning levels. Testing determines their presence and concentrations.

Understanding Key Water Quality Tests

Water Quality Testing in Massachusetts utilizes an array of test methods both in the field and lab to detect contaminants. Some key analysis techniques include:

Bacteriological & Microscopic Analysis Trained analysts under high magnification count disease-causing organisms like E. coli, parasites, yeasts/molds. They can also observe water clarity and particulates indicating contamination.

Molecular Testing DNA and RNA analysis via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) rapidly detects pathogens difficult to culture like Legionella along with antibiotic resistance markers. Enzyme immunoassays (EIA) locate microbes via antigen-antibody reactions.

Chemical Screening Analysis Quick chemical test strips, colorimetric tubes with liquid reagents or handheld meters allow field personnel to rapidly quantify parameters like pH, chlorine, copper, nitrates/nitrites indicating potential issues needing further analysis.

Chromatography & Spectrometry Lab based gas (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) along with mass spectrometry (GC-MS, LC-MS) separate out and analyze volatile organic compounds while inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analytics detect trace metals.

Who Conducts Water Quality Testing?

Both government agencies and private companies undertake water quality testing across Massachusetts. These include:

MassDEP

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) oversees wide drinking water quality testing across public water supplies. Their standards adhere to state regulations along with EPA guidelines on Safe Drinking Water Act compliance.

Municipalities

Town water departments test reservoirs, storage tanks and distribution points to monitor for localized issues and maintain safety. Larger municipalities have their own certified laboratories while smaller towns may send samples to external labs.

Private Laboratories

Numerous commercial environmental testing labs assist municipalities along with private well owners in assessing water contaminants. Operations range from regional labs processing high volumes to small specialty biotesting facilities.

Impacts of Water Quality Results

Water quality testing provides the foundation for ensuring both regulatory compliance and public health protection when it comes to water safety. Results can have major impacts including:

Drinking Water Advisories

Contaminants exceeding maximum allowable levels established in state/federal drinking water standards prompt notifications to the public and government health agencies along with advice regarding vulnerability and exposure reduction.

Additional Treatment

Certain contaminants may mandate supplementary disinfection, filtration, corrosion inhibitors or other mitigating water treatments before drinking water distribution.

Infrastructure Upgrades

Elevated metals can reflect piping/plumbing corrosion issues needing replacement. Surface water pathogens may demand enhanced barriers from plant intake to tap. Test findings help prioritize capital improvements.

Further Investigations Unexpected or shifting detections of emerging contaminants can spur enhanced water monitoring, modeling and forensic assessments to trace sources while eliminating potential pathways for human exposure as needed.

Conclusion

Safe water is vital for community wellbeing across Massachusetts both today and for future generations. Strategic water quality testing gives actionable insights needed by government agencies, water professionals and consumers to secure accessible water free of contaminants.

Ongoing improvements across in-field water monitors, remote data and asset management tools along with high-resolution laboratory biomarkers and predictive models allow faster, more reliable detection and remediation of health concerning contamination incidents before they impact communities.

Together with engaged partnerships between health officials, scientists, regulators and local water departments, state-of-the-art water quality testing will continue providing critical health protections benefitting all citizens across the Commonwealth.