NOTICES
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Adams Fire District's Election and Annual MeetingThe Fire District Election and Annual Meeting will be held Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the District’s Fire Station located at 3 Columbia Street. The Annual Meeting will begin at 11:45 AM for the sole purpose of electing a Moderator. Voting will start at 12:00 noon and end at 6:00 PM. The Annual Meeting will reopen at 7:00 PM.
The following office is open: ONE Prudential Committee member for THREE years. The following questions to appear on the ballot: Shall the position of elected Chief Engineer become an appointed Chief Engineer, effective July 1, 2025? By choosing YES, the Adams Fire District Bylaws shall be amended to remove the provision which requires the Chief Engineer shall be elected by the voters, and instead shall be appointed by the Prudential Committee for a 3 year term. The current Chief Engineer will hold the office until their term expires or the office is vacated. By choosing NO, the Adams Fire District Bylaws shall remain the same and the position of the Chief Engineer shall be elected by the District voters for a 3 year term. Shall the positions of elected Assistant Engineers become appointed Assistant Engineers, effective July 1, 2025? By choosing YES, the Adams Fire District Bylaws shall be amended to remove the provision which requires the Assistant Engineers shall be elected by the voters, and instead shall be appointed by the Prudential Committee for a 3 year term. The current Assistant Engineers will hold their office until their term expires or the office is vacated. By choosing NO, the Adams Fire District Bylaws shall remain the same and the positions of the Assistant Engineers shall be elected by the District voters for a 3 year term. Shall the position of elected Clerk and Treasurer become an appointed Clerk and Treasurer, effective July 1, 2025? By choosing YES, the Adams Fire District Bylaws shall be amended to remove the provision which requires the Clerk and Treasurer shall be elected by the voters, and instead shall be appointed by the Prudential Committee for a 3 year term. The current Clerk and Treasurer will hold the office until their term expires or the office is vacated. By choosing NO, the Adams Fire District Bylaws shall remain the same and the position of the Clerk and Treasurer shall be elected by the District voters for a 3 year term. April 2, 2025 Click here: Annual Meeting Warrant Click here: Annual Election Specimen Ballot April 29, 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annual Drinking Water
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Assistant Clerk & Treasurer
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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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Lawsuit Update
On 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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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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Use the Mass.gov interactive Water Conservation Tools to learn more about water conservation
March 10, 2025
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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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Massachusetts Drought VideoPlease click here to watch an eye opening video regarding drought conditions in Massachusetts.
January 26, 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |