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What's New!
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| DRINKING WATER RIVER CROSSING PLACED IN SERVICE - Monday, June 06, 2011
After just over one year of construction, the Manchester Water Works recently placed into service a 20-inch water line crossing of the Merrimack River which will link two remote portions of the City’s nearly 500-mile piping network to improve water quality, increase fire protection and provide additional reliability of supply to portions of north and northwest Manchester.
The nearly $1.6 million project which had been in the planning stages for nearly a decade was completed by Carson & Roberts of New Jersey. Unique to this nearly one-mile long pipe line project, was a 900 feet section of water main installed using directional drilling for the portion under the bed of the Merrimack River, the majority of which was in a bedrock condition.
The engineering design as provided by Kleinfelder/SEA of Manchester was particularly critical due to the extremely deep conditions under the Merrimack River, as well as the use of Fusible PVC pipe which the Manchester system had previously not utilized. Tom Bowen, Director at the Manchester Water Works, praised the efforts of Carson & Roberts, as well as the consultant, for bringing together the project within budget. He also wanted to specifically thank the Derryfield School for allowing an easement across a large portion of their property. “We worked with Derryfield School personnel
for nearly a year in selecting a route across their property that minimized any disruption to their operation and still met both Manchester Water Works’ and Derryfield’s long-term needs. Cooperation between all of the parties was a major contributor to the success of this important project.”
With the existing and potential growth that is possible in northwest Manchester for both residential and commercial development, the river crossing will ensure that Manchester Water Works’ customers will benefit from this project for decades to come. |
| Changes to Fluoride Levels February 7, 2011 - Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Changes to Fluoride levels
To all MWW Customers
The US Health & Human Services (HHS) and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a joint notice of their intent to revise the recommended fluoride levels for community water systems from the current level at 1 mg/l to a new level of 0.7 mg/l.
As a result, and in consultation with Manchester Health Department and the NH Department of Environmental Services, Manchester Water Works will be reducing fluoride levels on Monday February 7. The new level will be 0.7 mg/l
Should you be interested in finding out more about this change, we encourage you to check out the HHS link indicated below.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/pre_pub_frn_fluoride.html |
| Manchester Water Works Drinking Water Judged “New England’s Best” - Friday, October 22, 2010Manchester Water Works Drinking Water Judged “New England’s Best”
Manchester, NH - Manchester Water Works’ drinking water was judged “New England’s Best” at a special taste-testing competition at the recent annual conference of the New England Water Works Association, the region’s largest, not-for-profit organization of water works professionals.
A panel of independent, international judges sampled drinking water from utilities throughout New England that had no violations of state or federal safe drinking water standards during the previous year.
These judges included Gary Sullivan, senior section services representative of the international American Water Works Association; Jerry Stevens, general manager of the West Des Moines (Iowa) Water Works and president-elect of the American Water Works Association; and Babtunde Ogunsanwo, professor at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Nigeria.
Manchester Water Works will compete against utilities from North America for the title of “Best of the Best” drinking water next June in Washington, D.C., at the annual conference of the American Water Works Association, the world’s largest organization of water works professionals.
Manchester Water Works serves 160,000 residential, industrial, and commercial consumers in the city as well as the surrounding communities of Auburn, Bedford, Derry, Goffstown, Hooksett, and Londonderry.
In 2006, the Manchester Water Works treatment plant underwent an extensive $30 million renovation program, which replaced the existing disinfection and filtration system with a more advanced ozone and carbon treatment process.
Ozone is known to improve the aesthetics of drinking water while providing disinfection at the same time.
Because it is used in place of chlorine, MWW water now contains less than one-tenth of national safe drinking water standards for disinfection by-products.
The 2006 renovation program also increased the treatment plant’s capacity from 40 million to 50 million gallons.
Over the years, Manchester Water Works has continually reinvested in rehabilitating and upgrading its infrastructure (water mains, pumping stations, etc.), avoiding large capital outlays for such necessary improvements. In so doing Manchester Water Works has also been able to keep it’s water rates amongst the lowest in New England.
Shortly after the original Manchester Water Works treatment plant was activated in 1974, the project was named one of the top ten engineering achievements in the country by the National Society of Professional Engineers and was selected as a finalist in the national Engineering Excellence Awards competition sponsored by the American Council of Engineering Companies.
The Manchester Water Works Board of Water Commissioners includes Theodore L. Gatsas, mayor ex-officio; Louis C. D’Allesandro, president; Dylan R. Cruess, clerk; William A. Beaton; Bernard G. Garrity, Jr.; Phillip Sapienza; and Paul G. Lessard. The Manchester Water Works staff also includes Thomas Bowen, Director, and Robert Beaurivage, Assistant Director.
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| Water-Efficient Fixtures Can Cut Household Water Use by 30 Percent - Monday, May 11, 2009
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The average person living in a typical single-family home without water-conserving fixtures uses 74.0 gallons of water each day around the home. Here is how it breaks down:
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Type of Use
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Gallons per
Capita per Day
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Percentage of
Total Daily Use
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Showers
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13.2
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17.8%
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Clothes Washers
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16.8
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22.7%
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Toilets
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19.3
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26.1%
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Dishwashers
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1.0
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1.4%
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Baths
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1.3
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1.8%
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Leaks
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9.4
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12.7%
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Faucets
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11.4
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15.4%
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Other Domestic Uses
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1.6
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2.1%
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Total
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74.0
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100%
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Save Water, Save Money
By installing more efficient water fixtures and regularly checking for leaks, households can reduce daily per capita water use by 30 percent to about 51.9 gallons per day. This saves up to $100 each year. Here's how water use breaks down for households using conservation measures:
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Type of Use
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Gallons per
Capita per Day
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Percentage of
Total Daily Use
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Showers
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11.1
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21.3%
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Clothes Washers
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11.8
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22.7%
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Toilets
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9.3
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17.9%
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Dishwashers
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1.0
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2.0%
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Baths
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1.3
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2.6%
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Leaks
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4.7
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9.7%
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Faucets
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11.1
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21.5%
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Other Domestic Uses
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1.6
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3.0%
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Total
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51.9
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100%
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(Source: 1998 Residential Water Use Summary, American Water Works Association)
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| Chloramine Update - Monday, May 11, 2009
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Effective August 1st, 2006 Manchester Water Works changed the Secondary Disinfectant used at the Water Treatment Plant from Chlorine to Chloramine.
Why are we doing this?
The current practice of using chlorine alone to disinfect drinking water has been found to create by products that over a lifetime of exposure may pose a health risk. In order to continue to provide the safest and purest water possible, Manchester Water Works will be changing the disinfection practice to rely on ozone and chloramines, a combination that nearly eliminates these by products and disinfects even better than chlorine alone.
What is chloramination?
A Chloramine is a combination of chlorine and a small amount of ammonia. Chloramination is the process that adds chloramines to drinking water. Many cities throughout the United States and elsewhere have been using the chloramination process for decades to purify drinking water and eliminate the bacteria that cause waterborne diseases.
Do chlorine and chloramines work the same?
Both chorine and chloramines are toxic to bacteria and virus’ in essentially the same way. The factors that affect this most are: the concentration of chloramine or chlorine; the water temperature; and the time that these chemicals are in contact with the microorganisms.
What are the benefits of chloramination?
• Chloramine is a more stable and persistent but significantly less powerful disinfectant than chlorine. It preserves the quality of water purified at the water treatment plant as it travels through the distribution system.
• Chloramination helps to reduce disinfection by-products such as trihalomethanes (THM’s) in the water.
• Chloramine reduces the taste and odor of chlorine in tap water.
What are trihalomethanes (THM’s)?
THM’s are chemical compounds (by products) that form when chlorine mixes with the natural organic material in water. These compounds are suspected to be carcinogens. The USEPA has recently set a standard of 80 parts per billion (ppb), as the safe maximum level of THM’s in drinking water. Chloramination reduces the amount of THM’s by more than half.
Is chloraminated water safe?
Chloraminated water is safe for drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning scrapes or cuts, doing laundry, and watering the garden and has lower concentrations of the by products mentioned above. With the exception of kidney dialysis patients, aquarium owners and certain businesses, there will be no difference in how water can be used for most customers.
What precautions should dialysis patients be aware of?
Dialysis patients can drink, bathe and cook with chloraminated water, but they cannot use chloraminated water in the dialysis process. Because of the persistent nature of chloramines, water used for dialysis must be specially treated to eliminate them. Dialysis patients should call their doctor for more information on the precautions they must take.
Why do fish owners have to take precautions with chloraminated water for fish, reptiles, and amphibians that live in water?
As with chlorine, chloramines are very harmful to fish (saltwater and freshwater), as well as reptiles and amphibians that live in water. Dechloramination of the water must be completed before the water is used.
What can aquarium owners do to remove chloramines?
Household, restaurant, and commercial fish tank owners will need to change their current chlorine removal process to remove chloramines. The appropriate products or carbon filtration equipment for removing chlorine and chloramines will be available in most pet aquariums stores prior to the conversion.
Can home remedies for treating aquarium water such as boiling water, using salts and letting water sit still for a few days remove chloramines?
NO. Home remedies such as boiling, using salts, and having water sit still are not sufficient methods to remove chloramines. Unlike chlorine, which only takes a few days to evaporate when sitting still, chloramines remain in water for a much longer time. The best way for fish owners to remove chloramines is to use a water conditioner that contains a dechloraminating chemical. The chemical is available at pet supply stores.
Is chloraminated water safe for plants and other pets besides fish, reptiles, and amphibians that live in water?
YES. Chloraminated water is just as safe as chlorinated water for plants and animals that do not live in water.
What types of businesses and industries need to plan for the conversion?
Businesses and industries that need to prepare for the conversion include, but are not limited to, the following: pharmaceutical laboratories, microchip manufacturers, biotech companies, breweries, restaurants or seafood suppliers with fish tanks, and photographic labs.
Why do Commercial/Industrial Consumers with Process Equipment Sensitive to Water Quality have to take precautions with chloraminated water?
Again because of their persistence, chloramines may have adverse effects on Process Equipment that is sensitive to oxidants. Contact your process equipment supplier/process engineer for further instructions.
Will pool owners need to treat chloraminated waters differently?
As with chlorinated water, pool owners will need to maintain the same chlorine residuals as before to prevent algal and bacterial growth. Pool suppliers can provide owners with additional information.
How will chloramines affect household plumbing, pipes and water heaters?
After the conversion, rubber parts on some household plumbing and water heaters may degrade faster than previously experienced. Plumbing hardware supply stores can provide further information and assistance.
Filtering Out Chloramine
For aesthetic or personal reasons, you may wish to remove chloramine from your water. The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) has a helpful guide to assist you in choosing a certified drinking water filtration product.
Chloramination Brochure
NSF Product and Service Listings
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| Manchester Water Works receives national recognition - Monday, May 11, 2009
Manchester Water Works receives national recognition for it's sustained commitment to providing it's customers with drinking water of the highest quality.
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MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, JUNE 2008 – Manchester Water Works has received a national award for maintaining the Directors Award of recognition from the Partnership for Safe Water, a national volunteer initiative developed by EPA and other water organizations representing water suppliers striving to provide their communities with drinking water quality that surpasses the required federal standards. The Directors Award is presented to water systems who have completed a successful review in the Partnership’s Self-Assessment and Peer Review phase, a phase in which utilities examine the capabilities of their treatment plant operation and administration and then create a plan for implementing improvements. Manchester Water Works has maintained the Directors Award for five years, an honor achieved by only 142 water utilities across the country.
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| Direct Payment Of Water Bills Is Now Available To MWW Customers - Monday, May 11, 2009
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Manchester Water Works is please to offer this fast, reliable, and free way to pay your water bill. With Direct Payment, you authorize MWW to collect payment for your water bill directly from your individual or joint checking account. Benefits include:
- You save time because there are no checks to write.
- You save money by avoiding the cost of mailing and except in case of rejected Direct Payment debits; you will never incur a late charge.
- You can be assured your water bill will be paid in full and on time even if you are away from home.
Click here to sign up or for more information regarding Direct Payment.
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