Board of Health Discusses Sodium, Chlorine in Wayland's Water

Sodium levels in Wayland's drinking water this year have tested high enough to raise concerns for the town's Board of Health.

The tests of the highest concern are those from the town's two Happy Hollow wells, which showed sodium levels at 63 and 72 parts per million in February tests. Currently, levels above 20 ppm are required to be reported.

Wayland's Department of Public Works Director Don Ouellette said the level of sodium in Wayland's drinking water isn't necessarily unusual for New England towns, and the DEP is even expected to raise the threshold in the near future.

“One of the things that is very common in New England, we were under ocean at one point," Ouellette said during a Tuesday Board of Health meeting. "So sodium content is something that’s very common in New England.”

He explained that other tests indicated that the typical sodium content of water "out of the faucet" in Wayland is 39 ppm.

Still, the level of sodium in Wayland's water at the Happy Hollow wells led the BOH to issue a statement in mid-March, calling the level a "public health concern to Wayland citizens." Because all of Wayland's water is blended at times, even residents living far from the Happy Hollow wells could be affected.

Board of Health members said their primary concern with the sodium content is for residents on low- or no-sodium diets.

Andy Irwin, a member of the Conservation Commission, pointed out that personal water softeners will increase the sodium content even more and BOH members agreed that water softeners should be part of their advisory to residents.

Thomas Klem, chairman of the Board of Health, said the sodium levels raised concerns because of an increasing trend over the past 15 years.

Ouellette explained that the town has taken mitigating steps, which included moving the parking lot of the new high school away from the Happy Hollow wells. In addition, the town stopped salting at Wayland High School two years ago and has adopted a 50/50, sand to salt mixture for roads throughout town.

Irwin recommended another step could be switching to calcium chloride, rather than sodium chloride, for the town's ice melt mixture.

Ouellette said that he would look into that option, but he understood calcium chloride to be much more expensive and require a specialized application process.

Twenty or 30 years ago, Ouellette said, a sand and gravel pit was located behind the Happy Hollow wells. The salt was mixed at that location, which is another reason Ouellette isn't surprised by the sodium content at those particular sources.

He said there are plans in the works to move the wells 50 feet uphill to get them out of the 100-year flood plain in which they currently sit. Preliminary testing at the new location shows sodium levels to be slightly higher at the new sites.

Ouellette said the town tests the water quarterly and second quarter results should be available soon.

“We’re doing what we can, and I think we’ve made some changes," Ouellette said. "It's not something you’re going to see instantaneous changes in the data on.”

While the topic of chlorine in the town's water was not on the original meeting agenda, it did come up in the shape of questions about the amount of chlorine the town is using.

BOH member Cynthia Hill said the perceptible smell of chlorine in the town's water is overwhelming.

Resident Linda Segal added that her hairdresser wondered why her hair was taking on a greenish hue.

Ouellette assured the group that the level of chlorine being used in the town water hasn't been altered in "12 to 14 months," but said he will look into the concern.

What do you think of Wayland's water? Tell us your thoughts to this week's on the topic?

Editor's Note: This article has been clarified to reflect Irwin's contribution to the water softener discussion.