MWRA says water tastier because of different treatment

Good news is coming from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority: The water is not only safe to drink, it tastes better.

The agency that provides drinking water to 50 Massachusetts communities is sending consumers its 2005 annual water quality report highlighting the system's transition to primary treatment with ozone rather than chlorine.

In July, the system's John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant in Marlborough began using ozone gas bubbles to kill germs, resulting in fewer potentially harmful byproducts of chlorination and better taste.

``It tastes great and it's clean as a whistle," said Frederick A. Laskey , MWRA executive director.

``The major difference from this year compared to previous years is the impact of the ozone treatment plant. Because of that plant, our disinfectant byproducts have dropped by 80 percent because we no longer use chlorine as the primary disinfectant."

On the financial front, however, MWRA rates are expected to climb 5 percent to 9 percent this summer, Laskey said.

Officials are finishing the agency's budget and awaiting details about state assistance before determining the precise increase, he said.

Although the system as a whole did not exceed standards for lead in drinking water, Laskey said, lead was detected in water samples taken in March in six communities -- Boston, Framingham, Malden, Milton, Quincy, and Winthrop.

The tests examine lead levels in drinking water in homes where the metal is expected to be a problem because of service lines or lead solder in plumbing.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency requires that nine out of the 10 homes sampled within a water system have lead levels below a certain limit.

``We have passed the test. There are a couple of communities that are over," Laskey said.

In those cities and towns, homeowners are advised to run their water before drinking it in the morning, in order to flush out water that may have been in contact with lead overnight.

The MWRA said lead is not in its water, but can leach into it from pipes when it stands for a time.

In Milton, for example, the town has no lead water mains and has replaced lead service lines in the streets, said Darlene McGrath, business manager for the Water Division.

But older homes may still have lead service lines on the property side.

``Once it's flowing, there shouldn't be any issues with it," said McGrath.

``When they do lead tests, they do them on the first draw after [the water] has been standing for eight hours.

``Flushing a toilet will clear it out."