NOTICES
Drought Notification
Due to a very dry fall, Western Massachusetts is now officially in a Stage 3 – Critical Drought. Many areas of the state are also on high alert for wildfires, with numerous fires currently burning throughout the state.
The following steps will help to minimize risk, protect our communities, conserve water, and support our firefighters:
Thank you
November 19, 2024
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The following steps will help to minimize risk, protect our communities, conserve water, and support our firefighters:
- Minimize overall water use
- Fix any toilet or faucet leaks immediately
- Aggressively reduce indoor water use by taking shorter showers, running dishwashers, and washing machines only on a full load
- Limit washing of hard surfaces (sidewalks, patios, driveways, siding); personal vehicle or boat washing
- Exercise caution using grills when outside
- Do not have outdoor fires
Thank you
November 19, 2024
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Mandated Service Line Inventory
What is a Water Service Line?
Water service lines are pipes that carry water from our mains, located in the streets, to individual homes and buildings. Service lines can be made of pipe material consisting of copper, cast iron, ductile iron, lead, or galvanized steel.
What Our Customers Need to Know:
In 2021, the US EPA published revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule that required all Public Water Systems to complete an inventory of service lines connected to distribution systems.
The purpose of the inventory is to address lead concentrations in drinking water, by developing an inventory to identify the location of lead service lines, and Galvanized Requiring Replacement.
What are the steps we have completed?
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Water service lines are pipes that carry water from our mains, located in the streets, to individual homes and buildings. Service lines can be made of pipe material consisting of copper, cast iron, ductile iron, lead, or galvanized steel.
What Our Customers Need to Know:
In 2021, the US EPA published revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule that required all Public Water Systems to complete an inventory of service lines connected to distribution systems.
The purpose of the inventory is to address lead concentrations in drinking water, by developing an inventory to identify the location of lead service lines, and Galvanized Requiring Replacement.
- We have no record of Lead Service Lines in Adams.
- Galvanized Requiring Replacement: Any galvanized service line that is or has ever been downstream of a lead service line, or of an unknown material service line. These lines are included to be replaced because they have demonstrated the ability to absorb lead from a lead service line and release it in the future.
- The EPA has required galvanized steel lines to be defined as Galvanized Requiring Replacement “ if the water system is unable to demonstrate that the galvanized service line was never downstream of a lead service line, it must presume there was an upstream lead service line”.
- The District's documentation of privately owned customer services does not date back since our incorporation in 1873, so we cannot meet the documentation requirement of EPA to proclaim service lines as “Galvanized Steel”, however, we are now required to list them as “Galvanized Requiring Replacement”.
- 10% of service lines within the District are Galvanized Requiring Replacement. Homeowners will be notified if applicable.
What are the steps we have completed?
- We have been documenting service material in house on a daily basis since 2018 in preparation of the EPA revision that was published in 2021, as noted within our 2023 Consumer Confidence Report.
- In August of 2024, we completed a full inventory of service lines, with no unknown services and began working with MassDEP for submittal in advance of the required deadline of October 16, 2024.
- We have a fully implemented Corrosion Control Plan that stops the leaching of metals, as described within our 2022 Consumer Confidence Report.
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FY2025 RatesThe Adams Fire District TAX RATE is billed through the Town of Adams for Fire Protection and Street Lighting services and appears as a separate line item on your property tax bill. This tax is assessed based on your property value. The FY25 tax rate is to be determined.
The Adams Fire District WATER RATES are billed directly by the District, for actual water used. There will be NO increase in water rates for FY25. The Prudential Committee deems it necessary to maintain the water rates as follows: Water Rates: Residential: $8.40 per thousand gallons Commercial: $8.40 per thousand gallons Industrial: $8.40 per thousand gallons Sprinkler: $25.00 per quarter or $100.00 annually The water rates will remain at $8.40 per thousand gallons for Residential, Commercial, and Industrial accounts. Rates are effective for July 2024 through June 2025 billing. May 24, 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annual Drinking Water
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Meter Replacements
Adams Fire District would like to inform the District’s residents that the Water Department will be replacing water meters. If you have any questions, please call the District Superintendent @ 743-0978 ext.13.
April 2, 2018 Our Water Meter Replacement Program is almost complete. If you have not had a new Master Meter installed in your home, please CALL 743-0179 ext. 11 TODAY to schedule an appointment. This replacement is not optional. All meters must be replaced as soon as possible. March 13, 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lawsuit UpdateOn September 13, 2019, the Adams Fire District
was served with a class action lawsuit, which challenged the way the District billed Street Lighting and Fire Protection as a fee, rather than as a tax. The Class Action Settlement was finalized on August 17, 2023. Damages have been administered by Optime Administration, LLC. Please contact Optime with any questions or concerns regarding this matter: 844-625-7313 or [email protected] August 25, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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FYI
The REAL Cost of Water
For more information click here.
September 8, 2022 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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To Receive Emergency Notices
Residents should update their contact information
(home phone, cell phone, and email) with Reverse 911: Go to the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office website, https://bcsoma.onthealert.com or Go to the Town of Adams website, http://town.adams.ma.us/Public_Documents/index, click on "Reverse 911 - Get it Now" (this will bring you to the same website as above) Follow Instructions ------------------------------------------------------------------ Disposal Safety
September 11, 2023
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TIPS
Winter Plumbing Advice
Winter is coming!!! Now is the time to make sure your plumbing system is protected for the cold months ahead. If your water pipes or meter are exposed to the cold, your plumbing may freeze!!! Frozen pipes can disrupt your water service, rupture causing water damage to your property, and result in expensive water usage and/or repair bills.
To avoid your internal plumbing from freezing, maintain a mild temperature in your basement, stop any drafts from entering the area, and disconnect all outdoor water hoses. If your basement is not heated, insulate your water pipes and meter. If your property is vacant, notify us to have the water service turned off outside and have the meter removed, also, consider winterizing the home’s internal plumbing system. If your outside water service line is susceptible to frost, you may want to let your water run at a pencil thin stream once the ground is frozen, until the thaw, to avoid your outside service line freezing.
October 16, 2024
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To avoid your internal plumbing from freezing, maintain a mild temperature in your basement, stop any drafts from entering the area, and disconnect all outdoor water hoses. If your basement is not heated, insulate your water pipes and meter. If your property is vacant, notify us to have the water service turned off outside and have the meter removed, also, consider winterizing the home’s internal plumbing system. If your outside water service line is susceptible to frost, you may want to let your water run at a pencil thin stream once the ground is frozen, until the thaw, to avoid your outside service line freezing.
October 16, 2024
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Be Mindful of Your Water UsageAs a homeowner, you are responsible for all water that passes through the water meter. Regularly check your home for any water leaks and address all issues in a timely manner. Leaks can cause costly damage and run up your water bill. According to the EPA, household leaks waste approximately nearly 900 billion gallons of water annually nationwide, which is equal to the annual household water use of nearly 11 million homes.
Be mindful of your water usage. Keep track of how much water you are using each cycle. Look into any unaccounted-for increases. If you have access to your water meter, monitor your usage regularly. The average person consumes 80-100 gallons of water per day. The average household consumes 300 gallons per day. Visit the EPA’s website for more information on ways to save on water, and the following EPA webpage on ways to find and fix leaks in your home. November 2, 2022 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carbon Water FiltersAs per MassDEP Rules and Regulations, the District adds chlorine to the water system to provide protection against disease-causing pathogens; such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoans, that commonly grow in water supply reservoirs, on the walls of water mains and in storage tanks. Chlorine will be added to our system year-round, on a permanent basis.
Chlorine can be removed from the water used in your home by installing a whole house carbon water filter. These filters can be purchased at most hardware stores, including the local Walmart. Contact the District Superintendent at (413) 743-0978 ext.13 with any questions regarding this matter. July 18, 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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