Construction Outlook July 2023

J. F. White Contracting Company Tackles Complex Foundation and Deck for “Air Rights” Parcel 7 Project

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JULY, 2023

5 President’s Message: Summer Weather Once Again Highlights the Dire Need to Update Our Infrastructure

7 Legislative Update:

• Senate Passes Tax Relief Package; Conference Committee Meeting to Reconcile Proposals

• UCANE Weighs in on Legislation Before State Administration Committee

• BWSC Unveils New Stormwater Utility to Assist Infrastructure Modernization

• Healey-Driscoll Administration Expands State Spending Benchmarks to LGBT and Disability-Owned Businesses

• There’s a Dashboard for That Too: MassDOT Announces New Online Vehicle Census Dashboard

Editor: Jeff Mahoney, Senior Editor: Anne Klayman, Associate Editor Suzanne Hatch, Magazine Designer/Assistant Editor: Sherri Klayman, Head Writer/Assistant Editor: Mike Lenihan Construction Outlook Chair: Ryan McCourt Editorial Board: Ryan McCourt, Brian Cooney, Chris Valenti, & Querino Pacella

Summer Weather Once Again Highlights the Dire Need to Update Our Infrastructure

Summer is in full swing here in New England, and it is a time when people travel here from around the world to enjoy all the natural beauty and activities our area has to offer from Cape Cod to the Berkshires to the White Mountains. Another aspect of summer that has become increasingly normal is extreme weather. As Mark Twain is famously credited with saying, “If you don’t like New England weather, give it a few minutes.” Although even he would be shocked at the disparity that can happen from day to day.

In June we went from fall-like temperatures to oppressive humidity in a matter of a few days. Most recently, downpours have done significant damage to areas of central and western Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and especially Vermont. We have come to expect this weather over the last few years, regardless of the season. The need for climate resiliency is yet another critical reason why we need additional investment in our water infrastructure.

UCANE continues to emphasize that our drinking water and wastewater infrastructure systems are outdated. We track water main breaks throughout the state, and they come in on almost a daily basis. Most of these breaks are caused by old pipes, which are not equipped to handle the disparities in weather. The storms over the last few years have only served to highlight how woefully inadequate our underground infrastructure is.

This magazine also reports on the millions of gallons of raw sewage that discharges into all our rivers on a regular basis during storms because several treatment plants along our rivers are too old and are not equipped to handle the storm surges that occur. These types of incidents should never happen in 2023, yet they still do on a regular basis. The shortterm solution was the passage of legislation that noti -

fied residents after a discharge that the water quality in the river was unsafe. While notification is important and a way of highlighting the problem, these treatment plants need additional funding to do the necessary upgrades so that these discharges no longer happen.

The positive news is that in 2022 we saw the passage of a long-sought-after federal infrastructure bill that can bring almost $10 billion in funding to Massachusetts, $1.1 billion directly for water infrastructure. And UCANE’s advocacy efforts helped direct hundreds of millions of additional dollars towards water and underground infrastructure through stimulus and surplus revenues. We can no longer let “out of sight be out of mind” and ignore all the recent examples we have seen when our outdated water infrastructure is neglected.

UCANE is taking nothing for granted. We will continue to strongly advocate for these projects that are critical to public health and economic development. It is imperative that all stakeholders, public and private, take advantage of the opportunity being presented through these additional funding measures. n

Mark Molloy, Esq.

Senate Passes Tax Relief Package; Conference Committee Meeting to Reconcile Proposals

The Massachusetts Senate passed its version of a long-anticipated tax relief package in mid-June. In approving its $590 million tax relief bill, Senate leaders aimed to provide relief to renters, seniors, and parents while also increasing housing production. Whereas the Senate took a more “progressive” approach to improving the Commonwealth’s competitiveness, the Massachusetts House of Representatives focused on a broader approach that also embraced certain key initiatives sought by the larger business community. A Conference Committee of three House members (Representatives Cusack, Michlewitz, and Soter) and three Senate members (Senators Moran, Rodrigues, and Tarr) are now negotiating a potential consensus bill to send to the Governor.

Specifically, the Senate tax package would:

• Increase the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 30% to 40% of the federal credit;

• Merge existing credits into a new and enhanced Child and Dependent Tax Credit (CDTC) and increase the amount of the credit from $180 to $310 per child/dependent while eliminating the current cap of two children/dependents;

• Increase the statewide cap for the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) from $10 million to $57 million on a one-time basis and then to $30 million annually;

• Increase the cap on the rental deduction from $3,000 to $4,000;

• Raise the annual authorization of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit from $40 million to $60 million

• Double the maximum senior circuit breaker credit from $1,200 to $2,400;

• Exclude homes valued at under $2 million from the Estate Tax and eliminate the “cliff effect” by allowing a uniform credit of $99,600 for all estates;

• Triple the maximum credit under the Title V Tax Credit from $6,000 to $18,000, and lift the amount claimable to $4,000 per year;

• Expand eligible occupations for the Apprenticeship Tax Credit and increase a series of industry specific tax credits.

In a nod to its future negotiations with the House, the Senate tax package includes a study by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance on the feasibility of making advance quarterly payments of the Child and Dependent Tax Credit. The legislation also mandates a study by the Department of Revenue on the efficacy of an additional, elective entitylevel tax of up to four percent on a portion of qualified taxable income in the Commonwealth, coupled with a refundable credit, for eligible pass-through entities. Finally, the Senate tax relief proposal would require the comptroller to report monthly to the Massachusetts legislature on net state tax revenue collections, including an estimate of if and when revenues may exceed the allowable state tax revenue threshold under Chapter 62F of the Massachusetts General Laws. The Senate tax relief proposal does not change the calculation of the 62F threshold or the distribution of the credit as the House proposal does.

To view the Senate’s tax relief proposal, please visit https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2406. To view the House’s tax relief proposal, please visit: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H3770.

UCANE Weighs in on Legislation Before State Administration Committee

The Joint Committee on State Administration, chaired by House Chair Antonio F.D. Cabral and Senator Nick Collins, recently held a public hearing on a variety of legislative proposals that would impact public construction. Of note to UCANE members, the Committee heard testimony relative to House Bill 3001/Senate Bill 1972, An Act Relative to the Timely and Consistent Payment of Law Enforcement Personnel. This legislation, which received a favorable report from the Committee in the previous session, will likely reduce the cost of bid projects and ensure that law enforcement details are properly and timely paid.

While the laws on the use of police details are clear, the method of compensation is not. Some awarding authorities require the contractor to pay for police details; other awarding authorities make the payments themselves. The awarding authority, which is responsible for the oversight and management of a project, including record-keeping in connection with police details on the project, is likely the most responsible party for handling the payment associated with

those police details. House Bill 3001/Senate Bill 1972 proposing amending Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30; §39M to require awarding authorities, undertaking public works projects under this section of law, to make direct payments to those entities providing such paid details. The legislation further provides that the cost of police details shall not be included as part of the bid submitted by any offeror responding to a bid solicitation conducted in accordance with Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30, §39M. Finally, the legislation provides that this new requirement be referenced as part of any request for proposals (RFP) or request for response (RFR) so that contractors do not include a bid amount for this item.

In supporting the legislation, UCANE submitted written testimony that highlighted that “[t]his legislation has three distinct and clear benefits: greater control for awarding authorities over project costs; reducing costs within bids submitted by contractors; and, as importantly, ensuring that a police officer never goes without payment due to the default or bankruptcy of a contrac -

tor.” Executive Director of Construction Industries of Massachusetts (CIM), John Pourbaix, testified at the public hearing in support of the legislation as well.

UCANE also weighed in on two bills that may have unintended consequences on the construction industry. House Bill 3030/Senate Bill 2034/House Bill 3086, An Act Relative to the Definition of Fraud in Public Construction Bid Laws, would attempt to change the common law definition of “fraud” to include any statements, acts or omissions included as part of a bid response regardless of whether this information is actually relied upon by the awarding authority. While UCANE understands the intention of this legislation, the language as it stands will leave contractors liable to allegations of “fraud” for any accidental omissions of statements or documents submitted as part of a bid response – even when an awarding authority may place no reliance, weight or consideration on the same. Massachusetts courts have already held that an awarding authority must rely on the information submitted for it to be fraud. See Fordyce v. Town of Hanover, 473 Mass. 248 (2010). In essence, this legislation simply tries to undermine hundreds of years of caselaw that recognize that for an act to be “fraud;” another party must rely on the same as a fact or a stated truth.

In the second set of legislation, House Bill 2995, An Act Relative to Bidding for Public Construction Contracts (DCAMM)/Senate Bill 1985, An Act Relative to Increasing Transparency in Public Construction (MassDOT), these two bills, one which impacts prequalification before the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (SB1985) and, the other, prequalifications before the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (HB2995), would make contractors’ application for a certificate of eligibility and update statements public records. As no empirical evidence has been offered, nor exists, that demonstrates a need to make prequalification information a public record, UCANE respectfully asked the Committee to study these

matters further. In doing so, UCANE noted that the “legislation potentially puts contractors at risk from anti-competitive actions by third parties who seek to second-guess awarding authorities or seek unfair advantages for preferred contractors. Such actions do not benefit awarding authorities or, more importantly, the taxpayers of the Commonwealth.”

The Joint Committee on State Administration, which will continue to collect written testimony on the various initiatives, has until the first Wednesday of February 2024 to issue either a favorable, unfavorable, or study order report on the measures.

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BWSC Unveils New Stormwater Utility to Assist Infrastructure Modernization

At the start of 2024, the Boston Water & Sewer Commission (BWSC) will launch a new stormwater utility that will meet an increased need to modernize Boston’s stormwater infrastructure and better prepare for climate change. The proposed stormwater utility will restructure BWSC’s current billing by creating a stormwater charge, as well as credit and grant programs that will allow customers to reduce their stormwater charge by performing approved stormwater management activities.

According to a press release from the agency, BWSC expects that the majority of residential customers will not see an increase in their overall bill because the new billing structure includes a reduction to the existing sewer rate. The funds from the new stormwater charge will help make

necessary improvements to Boston’s stormwater management systems to better prepare the City for more frequent and intense storms, mitigate flooding, and reduce the amount of polluted runoff draining to the city’s waterways. Ahead of the launch, BWSC will undertake a six-month public outreach campaign, during which BWSC will solicit feedback and share information about the proposed stormwater utility with the public.

The new stormwater charge will allow BWSC and its partners to modernize infrastructure while allowing the City of Boston to address additional challenges posed by both climate change and urban development’s expanding footprint. Stormwater is generated when precipitation falls on hard impervious surfaces like roofs, driveways, roads, or sidewalks and “runs off,” rather than absorbing into the ground as it would in nature. When stormwater flows over hard surfaces, it collects litter, sediment, and other pollutants, like motor oil and fertilizer. Stormwater does not receive treatment at the Deer Island wastewater treatment plant, which means that all the pollutants carried by stormwater enter the Commonwealth’s lakes, rivers, streams, and harbors.

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In a city that receives an average of 48 inches of rainfall annually, stormwater runoff also contributes to inland flooding. Due to climate change, storms are becoming more frequent and

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Legislative Update continued from page 13

more intense, which will result in more flooding in the coming years if BWSC and the City do not begin to adapt now. To respond to these challenges, BWSC is highlighting the fact that the City of Boston must make improvements to its aging storm drain system, add storage capacity and stormwater treatment, and increase maintenance activities. For its part, BWSC has stated that infrastructure improvements will include pipe replacement and upsizing to accommodate larger volumes of water; stormwater storage features, like stormwater trenches, chambers, vaults, and other infiltration features that will be implemented wherever feasible; and additional staff, training, and equipment to facilitate more frequent and effective maintenance for all stormwater infrastructure, both gray and green.

The proposed stormwater charge will be used exclusively for stormwater management and will be based on the amount of impervious surface on a property. This is the most common basis for stormwater charges across the country and will more accurately reflect the cost of collecting and managing stormwater. Additionally,

customers that currently receive BWSC’s elderly and disability discounts (30% on water and sewer charges) will have those discounts automatically applied to the stormwater charge.

The City of Boston’s stormwater system is New England’s largest and consists of over 30,000 catch basins and 600 miles of pipe conveying stormwater to more than 250 outfalls. BWSC customers currently pay for stormwater management through the rates charged for sewer service. In the past, when sewage and stormwater were managed with one set of “combined sewer” pipes, using sewer charges to pay for stormwater management made sense. Now that BWSC has largely separated Boston’s combined system, the proposed stormwater utility will separate out charges for stormwater from the charges for sewer.

BWSC is in the process of determining the final amount of the proposed stormwater charge. For more information about the proposed stormwater utility (stormwater charge, credit program, and grant program), as well as a bill estimator tool, please visit: https://www.bwsc.org/stormwater.

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Healey-Driscoll Administration Expands State Spending Benchmarks to LGBT and Disability-Owned Businesses

At the end of June, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced two new initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for diverse and small businesses to provide goods and services to state agencies and local governments. The Administration is updating the Commonwealth’s Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) to include spending benchmarks for LGBT-owned Business Enterprises (LGBTBE) and Disability-owned Business Enterprises (DOBE) in the Commonwealth’s Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) for the first time. It is also implementing a new interactive online map that will help state agencies, cities, towns, prime bidders and contractors identify certified diverse business partners.

As reported in a press release from the Governor’s Office, the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) promotes equity of opportunity in the procurement and purchase of goods and services by executive agencies for DOBEs, LGBTBEs, Minority (MBE), Women (WBE), Veteran (VBE) and Service-Disabled Veteran (SDVOBE) owned businesses. LGBTQBE and DOBE are currently the only categories without established benchmarks. As of July 1, state agencies will work towards purchasing $18 million from LGBT-owned businesses and $18 million from businesses owned by individuals with disabilities during fiscal year 2024. After evaluating purchasing against these bench-

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Legislative Update continued from page 17

marks over the next year, the Administration will set new goals for fiscal year 2025.

In 2015, the SDO expanded to include Veteran (VBE), Disability (DOBE), and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBTBE) owned businesses, which made Massachusetts the most inclusive state supplier diversity program in the nation. At the time, no benchmark was set for DOBE or LGBTBE spending as those certification categories were new, and the Commonwealth needed to develop certified vendor capacity.

In addition to setting aside spending amounts for LGBTBE and DOBE businesses, the Administration also unveiled the Massachusetts Certified Business Dashboard, a new interactive online map that will help state agencies, cities, towns, and prime bidders and contractors locate certified diverse business partners based on location, as well as other criteria. Users can search by in-state and out of state, county, city or town, certifi -

c ation type, and by business name. Displayed information includes Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) business count, State business count, and counts by certification type, for-profit and non-profit, and business nature type.

The dashboard is the SDO’s latest innovation to increase equity in state purchasing. Since its reconfiguration in 2021, the SDO has introduced the Supplier Diversity Hub, a network that streamlines communication between state agencies, cities, towns, prime contractors and diverse and small businesses, the Resources Webpage for Diverse and Small Businesses, the Municipal Supplier Diversity Playbook and the SDO Means Business model, which provides resources and tools to eliminate barriers and uplift diverse and small businesses.

To view the SDO’s new dashboard, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/sdocertified-diverse-business-dashboard.

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Legislative Update continued from page 19

There’s a Dashboard for That Too: MassDOT Announces New Online Vehicle Census Dashboard

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) also announced the launch of a new online dashboard, the Massachusetts Vehicle Census (MVC), the first public dataset that joins information about how much vehicles are being driven with information about the vehicles themselves, including vehicle type, vehicle use, fuel classification, and the municipality the vehicle is garaged in.

According to a press release issued by MassDOT, the Massachusetts Vehicle Census is a resource for the public providing information regarding vehicle usage, baseline data on the total number of vehicles available, and mileage accrual. The data now available to the public will support conversations regarding

how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the Massachusetts Vehicle Census, with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) regarding the state’s vehicle fleet, fulfills the legislative requirements established in the 2022 climate and clean energy bill (Chapter 170 of the Acts of 2022). MassDOT worked in collaboration with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in the development of this resource. The public can view the dataset and then filter data geographically by municipality and metropolitan planning organization (MPO), as well as by selected characteristics about vehicles. To view the dashboard and associated database, please visit: https://geodothomepage-massdot.hub.arcgis.com/pages/ massvehiclecensus. n

Sales. Rentals. Parts. Service.

R epR

esentative

Davi D RogeR s (D - 24th MiDDlesex District)

Representative David Rogers joined the House of Representatives in 2013, after working as a business lawyer. He campaigned in 2012, spending countless hours researching the issues in our state and talking to the people in his community. At the time, he saw an opportunity to make a difference and he still strives to make an impact every day.

As costs continue to rise, please give your thoughts on how the state will continue to support local aid to cities and towns to help support basic municipal services, specifically water, wastewater, and underground utility infrastructure.

My mind jumps to the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. This agency, funded mostly through federal appropriation, provides grants and lowinterest loans to municipalities and other entities to improve water quality and safety by building and replacing water infrastructure. MassDEP, which I consistently advocate for during the budget season, then has oversight of the projects, helping municipalities advance their water services and infrastructure. Given the enormous need, I think the state must find the resources to support these infrastructure investments.

What are the biggest challenges for your district and region with regard to continued economic growth?

A: Q: Q: A: Q: A:

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, cities and towns across the country have faced unprecedented financial struggles. In our district, the 24th Middlesex (Arlington, Belmont, and Cambridge), we were lucky that not too many small businesses were forced to close their doors. However, in Belmont, the town has struggled to expand retail business in general, so there are some empty store fronts, even though it has an excellent town center and a very engaged community. This puts additional financial strain on town resources, due to a decline

in commercial tax revenue. While this is not true for every town, every community has struggled in the past few years, and as such it is important that we listen to our communities and make strategic efforts for economic expansion.

The #InvestinWaterMA campaign, sponsored by UCANE, highlights the importance of water infrastructure to a wide variety of industries. Can you share a sampling of some of the specific industries in your district that benefit from our investments in water infrastructure?

Every industry depends on water, but what I first think of is our homes. In my district, there are of course retail establishments and restaurants, but Belmont for example is nicknamed the “Town of Homes.” So, for a lot of my constituents, home flooding and sewage backups are probably among the biggest concerns, especially for those near the Mugar wetlands and the Alewife Brook.

I n Arlington, residents have been advocating for the protection of the Mugar wetlands, in response to a large development proposal. Of the 17-acre space occupied by the wetlands, 15.5 acres are in a FEMA flood zone or an area at high risk of flooding. Should the wetlands be removed, the risk of homes flooding in the area increases, as wetlands naturally minimize the risk of floods. This is an ongoing concern, with a powerful coalition to save the wetlands behind it.

Another issue is related to combined sewer overflows

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Interview continued from page 23

(CSOs), which discharge raw, untreated sewage-contaminated water into our streams and rivers during storms and heavy rain. Save the Alewife Brook hopes to stop combined sewer overflow discharge in a brook which touches Arlington, Cambridge, and Somerville. I currently have a bill (H.886), which would help decrease CSO use and untreated sewage discharge. Better overall water infrastructure, and increased education on its importance, would likely go a long way for both of these issues.

Enhanced water infrastructure also means that lower-income families, as potential homeowners, face less risk in purchasing a home, as water-related risks and the associated costs decrease with better overall infrastructure. So, while my district specifically may not have a standout industry that will benefit from enhanced water infrastructure, it’s clear how it will affect all residents, and even economic equity.

What are your thoughts on how the construction industry can best address workforce shortage and development issues it is facing?

I think part of the answer to the workforce shortage, in the construction industry specifically, and every industry generally, is by investing in and expanding access to equitable, inclusive training and education opportunities. Not everyone is going to college after high school, so investing in high quality vocational education is important. In doing so, we still need to support and retain the people that fit the classic construction worker image in the industry, but we also need to show those who don’t that there is room for them in the field, too. To do that, we need to put further resources into construction industry education and training, with equity consistently involved in our planning.

Can you share some of your other priorities for this Legislative session?

Alongside helping address workforce shortages, investing in industry training and development, as well as utility infrastructure, I’m interested in a variety of issues. This year I filed 66 bills, all of

which you can read about on my website, on topics like housing, the environment, caregiving, and more. One of my top legislative priorities this year is Access to Counsel, H.1731, filed with Rep. Day. This bill would help address the current power inequality in eviction proceedings by providing all tenants with access to counsel in such proceedings. Currently, only an estimated 10% or less of tenants show up to court with representation, which stalls cases and leaves them with weakened abilities to win a case and maintain housing. Our bill will help fix that, by administering a counsel program through the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC).

That’s just one bill, but it is an important one. Others include H.1940, An Act relative to transparency in the workplace, which aims to help tackle the wage gap, H.890, An Act Responding to the threat of invasive species, which seeks to enhance statewide invasive species monitoring and management, and as I mentioned earlier, H.866, An Act relative to combined sewer overflows. n

Fatal Accident: Willful Violation of OSHA Regulations Leads to Criminal Consequences

In May of 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced the criminal sentencing of a New Jersey contractor and its principal, stemming from a fatal violation of applicable OSHA regulations.

The case arose out of a construction project in upstate New York involving the construction of three buildings. A soil compaction plan called for the piling of large quantities of dirt “surcharges” where the buildings were to be located.

Although an engineering firm had designed a plan for the use of the surcharges, the defendant contractor and its principal failed to follow the plan. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, they instead “built a wall to hold back one of the surcharges, so workers could get started on the buildings next to it.” However, neither the contractor nor its principal “consult[ed] with any qualified person to see if the wall could withstand the weight to be placed on it by the surcharge.” This was a fatal error.

As the contractor continued to add dirt to the surcharge (including by driving machines on top of the surcharge), the surcharge pressed up against the wall. No warnings

were provided to any of the people working near the wall. And even though the contractor and its principal heard reports that the wall was unsafe, “[t]hey did not fix the wall.”

Unfortunately, the wall collapsed, killing one of the workers who had unsuccessfully attempted to flee. The contractor and its principal pleaded guilty to willfully violating applicable OSHA regulations resulting in the death of a construction worker. The United States District Court for the Southern Dis-

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Construction & Public Contracts Group, Hinckley Allen, LLP

Christopher Morog Partner Robert T. Ferguson Partner

trict of New York sentenced the contractor to three years of probation and ordered payment of a $218,417.00 fine. The Court sentenced the contractor’s principal to three months in prison plus one year of supervised release.

The case underscores the purpose of health and safety requirements. Construction is an inherently dangerous business and the failure to follow applicable requirements can lead to irreversible consequences well beyond civil or criminal penalties. It is imperative that contractors follow applicable OSHA requirements, not only because it is legally required, but because it is the right thing to do to further the health and safety of workers.

When it comes to OSHA compliance, note that prior OSHA citations can lead to future “willful” citations, depending on the circumstances. The U.S. Attorney’s press release did not clearly identify the basis for the “willful” citation in this case.

It is also worth noting that the unfortunate result in this case likely could have been avoided if the contractor had simply followed the applicable project requirements and refrained from engaging in unauthorized design and construction. In this regard, Massachusetts recognizes the so-called Spearin Doctrine, which generally provides that the party furnishing a design for construction in the de -

sign-bid-build context impliedly warrants that the design is sufficient for its intended purpose. As a result, “if the contractor is bound to build according to plans and specifications prepared by the owner, the contractor will not be held responsible for the consequences of defects in the plans and specifications.” If the contractor believed that a retaining wall was necessary to enable construction, the contractor should have raised this issue for the owner and its design team to resolve. n

with UCANE’s Officers and Board Members

Will you please give us some information on your background and tell us how you got started in the construction business?

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview for this month’s Construction Outlook magazine. My father was in the lumber industry. He built the log home that I grew up in as a child. Growing up I always enjoyed working side by side with him on different projects around the home. As a teenager I spent a couple summers framing and roofing houses. After high school, I attended Northeastern University in Boston ,where I graduated with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a minor in Business Administration.

How long have you been with J. F. White Contracting Company, and what is your role in the company?

As a student at Northeastern University, I took full advantage of their cooperative education program. During college I worked four internship sessions at J. F. White Contracting Co., where I began to learn about the construction industry. Upon graduation I was hired by J. F. White Contracting Company. I am now in my nineteenth year of full-time employment at JFW. I am currently the General Superintendent at our Fenway Center Phase II project in Boston. I am also a member of the JFW Lift Management Team and enjoy taking an active role in company meetings, events, and growth.

As a young engineer at JFW I was fortunate enough to work with and learn from some of the best people in the business. Nineteen years later I am now a member of the JFW Lift Management Team helping to train another generation of young engineers. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with our new foremen, engineers, and managers. I take pride in seeing them grow and succeed in their careers.

J. F. White Contracting Co. has a long history of successfully completing landmark infrastructure projects in the Boston area and has a broad range of construction capabilities. What types and sizes of infrastructure projects does the company prefer to focus on, and are there any particular public agencies that the company historically works for?

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Badger

Under the Hard Hat continued from page 31

J. F. White is a multi-disciplined contractor, with strengths in heavy/civil, design/ build, electrical, mechanical, and deep foundation systems. We bring engineered solutions to complex projects of all types and sizes, whether public or private. Featured projects include MassDOT North Washington Street Bridge Replacement, Roadway, Ceiling, Arch, and Wall Reconstruction Sumner Tunnel, Fenway Center Phase II Foundations and Deck, and Design-Build construction such as the Fore River Bridge Replacement and Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation.

We have good relationships with, and have completed hundreds of projects for all the major public agencies in Massachusetts. With many of the larger dollar projects coming through MassDOT and MBTA, we may typically be doing more volume with those agencies.

Our Mechanical and Electrical Divisions are growing each year and we have performed a long list of major projects for the MWRA, Logan

Airport, MBTA and for many of the colleges and hospitals in the area.

JFW’s reputation for Deep Foundation and Earth Support Projects is second to none. Our proven expertise has expanded our list of private clients and we have completed some of the most complicated excavations in Boston (and beyond). Our resume includes underground parking garages, foundations and pile support systems for some of the largest buildings in Boston, as well as subway stations.

J. F. White Contracting Co. has often participated in joint venturing opportunities. Did the company participate in any joint ventures in 2022, and how do you see the New England heavy civil market looking forward in 2023-2024 for such opportunities?

Over the past several years JFW has joint ventured with the likes of Skanska Civil and Kiewit Corporation

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Under the Hard Hat continued from page 33 on our Fore River Bridge Project, Longfellow Bridge Project, and Fast 14 Bridge Replacement Project.

As you are aware the recent infrastructure bill(s) will funnel billions of dollars to states and local governments to upgrade outdated roads, bridges, transit systems, utilities, and more. It will be a tremendous opportunity for the state and local agencies, contractors, design firms, and vendors to prosper. I look forward to being a part of it.

What do you see as the greatest challenge for infrastructure contractors as we reach the midpoint of the 2023 construction season?

People, integrity, and excellence are at the core of who we are, and the future success of J. F. White will center around those basic values. I think the biggest challenge J. F. White, as well as other contractors in this industry are facing is maintaining the

well-being of our people and workforce. With stress and mental health issues increasing across all industries, it is more important than ever that supervisors develop closer relationships with their workers so they can recognize and assist an employee having a personal problem that they may be carrying into work with them.

The ambitious schedules required by some public and private owners can make it difficult to manage your workload, maintain a good worklife balance, and attract the next generation of management and craft to the industry. While the recent infrastructure bill(s) are exciting, they will likely result in more accelerated construction techniques, which require long term surge work with around the clock work shifts, off peak work hours, and weekend outages. Such techniques minimize the impact to the traveling public, however present significant challenges to the contractors and to their workforce at every level.

Across JFW projects we also see increasing dif-

continued on page 37

Under the Hard Hat continued from page 35

ficulty and rising costs in disposing of surplus excavated soils. There is a shrinking landfill capacity in Massachusetts that needs to be addressed by our public agencies and elected officials before trucking and disposal costs make some projects not viable.

How long has J. F. White Contracting Co. been a UCANE member, and why did you decide to accept the offer to serve on UCANE’s Board of Directors?

J. F. White has been a member of UCANE for 45 years. I was asked to serve on the UCANE Board of Directors this year. I think it is important to play an active role in the construction industry, on the jobsite and off. It has been an excellent opportunity to network and learn about some of the construction legislation behind it all. With over 250 members at UCANE, the knowledge and resources are endless and I am honored to serve as a board member. n

J. F. White Contracting Company Approaches its 100th Anniversary

Since its founding in 1924, J. F. White Contracting Company has served both the public construction market and private owners and developers with a multi-disciplined approach to general contracting. The history of the company is a legacy of simple beginnings, hard work, strong family values, and integrity. Private owners, construction managers, design engineers, and specialty project consultants have benefitted from the professionalism of J. F. White’s project teams and the company’s ability to participate as stakeholders in the success of the project, for nearly 100 years.

Company Beginnings

It did not take long for the company’s founder, Joseph F. White, Sr., to gain recognition within the Boston heavy/civil construction market as a bold competitor with a strong work ethic and business savvy. Early projects focused mostly on roadwork in the downtown Boston area, but it didn’t take Joe White long to see there was also demand in the city for contractors that could perform excavation for deep and complex building foundations. The company soon found itself working with large private owners constructing the foundations to some of Boston’s most well-known buildings including the Statler Hotel and Office Building, the Sears Building, and Harvard Business School. By the late 1920s business was booming and Joe White’s billings and his equipment fleet, were growing at a rapid pace.

The early company success was nearly turned into disaster when the Great Depression hit in 1929. Suddenly banks were calling in loans, credit was almost unheard of, and new buildings and new projects were being postponed or scrapped. In order to keep the business going and his employees working, Joe

White again showed his business skills by putting his personal money back into the J. F. White Co. and at the same time creating another business called White Fuel Corporation, where he began hauling coal and fuel oils in the Boston area. Joe’s quick reaction allowed both companies to survive what would turn out to be a 10-year recession.

By 1939 the recession had ended, J. F. White Contracting Company was restoring some momentum, and Joe had three sons about to join the business. Things were finally looking up again for the first-generation family business. But alas, World War II became America’s problem on December 7, 1941 and Joe’s three sons went to war. It would not be until 1945 that the boys returned to give Joe some much-needed help and to transition the company into the second generation.

The Second Generation: Tom, Joe, Jr., and John White

In the postwar economy, public agencies and municipalities emerged as key players providing con -

J. F. White Contracting Co.

continued from page 38

struction opportunities. Principal among these at the time was the (Massachusetts) Metropolitan District Commission, or MDC, the umbrella organization that awarded construction contracts for improvements to the state's water and sewer systems, roads, and recreational facilities.

Starting with a modest job cutting ski trails and building a new ski tow at the MDC Blue Hills Reservation, J. F. White’s success with MDC projects continued. In 1950, the company was low bidder on what is today known as Storrow Drive. In the 60s, with the Interstate Highway System a national funding priority, J. F. White was ready and able. When the Clean Water Act brought treatment plants and interceptor pipeline projects to New England in the 70s and 80’s, White was in the forefront building multiple sewer treatment plants and installing sewer lines and river crossings across the region with some of the largest excavators in New England.

But it may have been the Charles River Dam project in 1980 that transformed J. F. White from a New England road builder and excavating contractor, to a competent and well-recognized heavy/ civil contractor. Multiple bridges and ever-larger projects followed in waves: The Ted Williams Tunnel (1992-95); the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Facility (1995-99) – a vital component of the cleanup of Boston Harbor – and finally several major segments of the $14 billion Central Artery Project (1995-2004) that depressed I-93 below the City of Boston.

Along the way, the J. F. White second generation continued to impress engineers, owners, agencies, and fellow contractors alike by taking on rail projects, designbuild projects, more complex foundation and underground parking garage jobs in the city, joint venturing on major infrastructure projects in New York, and even serving as General Contractor for the first home of the New England Patriots, Shaeffer Stadium. The company had become one of the most recognized contractors in the New England area and its then President Tom White was one of the most prolific charitable donors in Boston History.

Third Generation and Beyond

In 1997, Peter White assumed the leadership of the family business. Surrounded by some of the best talent in the business Peter and the company continued performing complex and high-profile work throughout New England and New York. The company formed its own in-house Electrical and Mechanical Divisions. By the early 2000s joint ventures and Design Build jobs pushed the company to annual revenues approaching $100 million.

The J. F. White name continued to be seen on landmark projects in the area including the Springfield Viaduct, the Cambridge sitework package for Novartis Pharmaceutical, multiple MBTA station upcontinued on page 41

Boston/Cambridge - Longfellow Bridge

Kevin Lampron, President J. F. White Contracting Co.

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Our attorneys can assist with a variety of legal issues: including succession and tax planning issues, employment-related issues, retaining quality outside directors and advisors, and managing exit transactions.

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J.

F. White Contracting Co.

continued from page 39

grades, Electrical and Mechanical upgrades at many Boston area colleges and hospitals, the “Fast 14” Bridge project for MassDOT, as well as the restoration of Boston’s iconic Longfellow Bridge.

In 2014, Dragados USA purchased the J. F. White Contracting Company. With 35 year employee Kevin Lampron, Jr. serving as President, the company is reaching new heights in both revenues and reputation. Their fleet of equipment has never been larger. They remain one of the most versatile and dependable heavy civil contractors in New England, working in both public and private sectors. Their Electrical and Mechanical Divisions compete for work at the highest and most complex levels.

Today’s J. F. White leadership team brings engineered solutions to challenging construction proj -

ects of all sizes. They also bring superior management and skilled craftsmen to every job. They seek to provide a collaborative working environment in which all parties share equally in the success of the project. Safety, quality, and schedule are bedrock elements of the planning and execution of their work, all of which are directly proportional to ultimate profitability.

A Dedicated UCANE Member

J. F. White Contracting Company joined the Utility Contractors Association of New England (UCANE) in 1978 and has been an active and supporting member of UCANE for 45 years. The White family and various officers of their company have had a presence on the Board of Directors in many of those years. The tradition continues with JFW’s Justin Goodheart (General Superintendent) being elected to the UCANE Board by his industry peers in 2023.

We are extremely proud to count J. F. White Contracting Company as a UCANE member. Being associated with such a well-respected firm and generous family has helped to elevate the stature of UCANE. We thank the White family for their many contributions to both UCANE and to our industry at-large. We wish the firm continued success as it approaches it’s 100 year milestone and adds more “Landmark” projects to its already impressive resume. n

J. F. White Contracting Company

Tackles Complex Foundation and Deck for “Air Rights” Parcel 7 Project

Fenway Center Phase 2 Being Built Above Massachusetts Turnpike in Boston

Editor’s Note: This Article is a continuation of the “Air Rights Projects” article printed in the June 2023 issue of Construction Outlook magazine.

A Tale of Two Projects

The demand for first class office space, laboratory space, and retail space in Boston has been flirting with all-time highs over the last several years. That is comforting news to the investors in two “Air-Rights Projects” that, after more than 10 years of design and permitting procedures, have broken ground in the City over the past two years. Both of these massive projects will be built on relatively small footprints, (approximately 2 acres) above and adjacent to both the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route I-90) and the MBTA Commuter rail.

These projects will involve utilization of vertical “Air Rights” above the turnpike roadway and the railroad tracks and will be made available by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Both projects will produce new high-rise buildings on the Boston skyline and will serve to connect neighborhoods within the city that were separated by the construction of the Massachusetts Turnpike over 60 years ago.

Known as Parcel 12 and Parcel 7, these projects are daunting in their scope, complexity, and risk with each project representing an investment approaching $1 billion. They are the first projects to utilize the “Air Rights’’ concept above the turnpike since Copley Plaza did the same 40 years ago. They are being moved forward by two of the most experienced and respected developers in the Boston Area.

Parcel 7 – Fenway Center

This article will focus on Parcel 7, also known as the Fenway Center Project. The Developers of the Fenway Center mega-project are IQHQ, a Real Estate Investment firm with offices in Boston and San Diego, and Merdith Management, a Real Estate Developer and Property Manager based in Beverly, MA. Merideth’s second generation owner John Rosenthal has developed many prime properties in the Boston area and is one of the largest

property managers in Massachusetts.

Fenway Center is being developed in two Phases. Phase 1 was a more conventional development of midrise buildings built on land adjacent to the turnpike and to historic Fenway Park. Approved plans call for 312 residential units and 37,000 square feet of retail space across two buildings and parking lot construction. Phase 1 is substantially complete with residents moving into the units and final fit outs being done on some of the retail space.

Phase 2 is the most challenging portion of the Fenway Center project. It is anything but conventional and will encompass the entire area above I-90 between the Brookline Avenue Bridge and the Beacon Street Bridge. That is a footprint of nearly 90,000 square feet above which will be constructed a 22-story and a 12-story building and a parking garage. The finished project will create over one million square feet of office, laboratory, and retail space.

J.F. White’s Fenway Project Supervisors (L-R) Justin Goodheart (General Superintendent), Luis Enes (Night Site Superintendent), and Matt DiMartino (Day Site Superintendent).

For the construction of Fenway Phase 2, the developers chose to divide the project into two components and select a CM/GC for each component. For the very complex Foundation Support and Deck Package, with an estimated value of $200 Million, the developers chose UCANE Member and Framingham based J.F. White Contracting Co. (JFW). The vertical construction component of the project, to be erected on the JFW constructed “ 2-acre canopy” to be built over the Turnpike, will be handled by John Moriarty and Associates, Inc. from Winchester, MA.

Fenway Phase 2 – Foundation and Deck Package

J. F. White Contracting broke ground on Phase 2 in June 2021. The project is directly adjacent to the Lansdowne Commuter Rail Station, as well as busy Kenmore Square, and in the shadow of Boston’s historic Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox.

The scope of work includes:

• Demolition of the existing Brookline Avenue utility bridge.

• Partial demolition and reconstruction of Brookline Ave. and Beacon St. bridges over I-90.

• Installation of support of excavation systems to enable foundation construction directly adjacent to I-90 and the MBTA Commuter Rail tracks at Lansdowne Station.

• Installation of driven steel H-piles and drilled minipiles through Boston’s blue clay to bedrock.

• Piles to be driven and drilled between the Beacon Street Bridge and Brookline Avenue Bridge:

1. Between East-bound (Inbound) lanes of the Turnpike and the adjacent MBTA Tracks

2. Within the median strip between Eastbound and Westbound Turnpike lanes

3. Between West-bound (outbound) lanes of the Turnpike and adjacent buildings

• Construction of cast-in-place concrete pile caps with heavy rebar mats for deck foundations.

• Erection of 64 large structural steel support columns rising 20 feet above the roadway including a framework of steel headers, girders, and 84 each heavy I- beams spanning the roadways.

• Setting of 90,000 square feet of precast concrete planks for the deck structure.

continued on page 44

and Lansdown MBTA Station (Photo Courtesy of GTR Engineering)

Map of Parcel 7

JFW Fenway Project

• Reinforced concrete walls built between the steel support columns

• Placement of 1500 cubic yards of heavily re inforced concrete mat on top of the decking, upon which two high-rise buildings will be built by others.

• Installation of temporary and permanent light ing for I-90.

• Full depth paving, and milling & overlay of I-90.

• Maintain vehicular traffic and MBTA Commut er rail schedule during all construction opera tions.

• Maintain traffic signage and controls on I-90, Bea con Street, Brookline Ave., and adjacent streets throughout the three year contract duration. The project schedule for the Foundation and Deck Package required multiple work shifts and some weekend work. The number of trades per sons building this project on the ground every day can vary between 50 and 100 depending on the specific work activity. To manage this unique project J.F. White assigned Paul McDonald as the lead Project Manager. Between office and field engineers, surveyors, assistant project managers, and an on-site office staff, JFW has assembled a talented and busy 15 person management team to run the Fenway Center Phase 2 project. Nine teen year veteran Justin Goodheart is the JFW on-site General Superintendent, with Luis Enes, Night Supt., Matt DiMartino, Day Superintendent, and Tom McNally as Lead Safety Supervisor.

According to General Superintendent Good heart the most complicated part of the project was the limited space allowed for the heavy construction work. “We could only reduce the turnpike traffic by a single lane in each direction,” says Goodheart.” Driving 220 foot H-piles requires large cranes and vibratory hammers. Operating this type of equipment within the narrow work zones is a challenge every day.”

With no laydown space available within the project site, an offsite staging area was required. Almost all materials provided by suppliers that would be incorporated in the project needed to be off-loaded and temporarily stored at the staging area located 1.5 miles offsite. When the site crews were ready, the materials would then be reloaded onto trailers, tied down, and transported to the site for installation. Most deliveries to the site were done at night during low traffic flows. Red Sox baseball games, day or night, required special accommodations by the JFW crews, as 38,000 fans descended on the adjacent ballpark.

continued on page 45

Center pile cap foundations in the median of Mass. Pike. Rebar in place and ready for concrete.

JFW Fenway Project continued from page 44

“First Up” – Pilings

In conjunction with the owner’s engineering consultants LeMessurier and Haley and Aldrich, J.F. White engaged GTR Engineering out of North Chelmsford, MA, to provide project-wide geotechnical and structural design services including temporary earth support design, trestle design, drilled micro-pile design, dynamic pile testing and geotechnical instrumentation services. Design ultimately called for piles to be driven or drilled to refusal at bedrock located over 200 feet below grade.

JFW crews drove all 544 of the steel H-piles. Lengths ranged from 210’ to 270’ for a total of 22 vertical miles of pile driving. Phoenix Foundation Company of Uxbridge, MA was subcontracted by JFW to install the micro-piles consisting of 10-inch diameter steel casings drilled down to bedrock and filled with rebar and high strength concrete. The specialty contractor drilled in 261 micro-piles for a total of 11 vertical miles. Adding the two types of piles, the small footprint comprising Parcel 7 required an amazing 33 vertical miles of piles to support the load of the buildings that will be built above the Turnpike.

Concrete and Steel “On Deck”

On top of the piles came the reinforced concrete pile caps and beams to distribute the building loads evenly.

S&F Concrete from Hudson, MA handled the formwork and concrete placement with many of the pours scheduled at night to avoid concrete trucks from being delayed by Turnpike traffic.

The heavy rebar placement and erection of the steel support columns and steel framing system was assigned to Pembroke, MA based subcontractor J.F. Stearns Co. The massive girders and I-Beams spanning the eight lanes of the Turnpike were fabricated by Cives Steel’s manufacturing facility in Augusta, Maine.

90,000 square feet of precast/prestressed concrete panels are currently being manufactured by J. P. Carrera & Sons at their plant in Middlebury, Vermont. They will be

First of many massive steel beams being installed over I-90 roadway. This girder is constructed of 4-inch thick plate material, weighs approximately 64 tons and is 61 feet

Steel erection cranes idle during the day, steel erection takes place at night with I-90 lane closures

Phoenix Foundation Co. installed 11 (vertical) miles of micro-piles

JFW Fenway Project continued from page 45

installed on top of the steel framing to create a continuous canopy above I-90 between the existing Beacon St. and Brookline Avenue Bridges, a distance of 650 feet. Approximately 525 panels averaging six ton apiece will be rigged and set by JFW cranes and crews over the next several months. Most of that work will be done at night due to traffic and safety concerns with all panels expected to be in place by October, 2023.

Intense Safety Program

Needless to say, these “Air Rights” projects requiring working multiple shifts in a congested city, and around and above active highways and operating railways, involve higher risks than a typical construction project that might be being built only during daylight hours on a quiet, fenced-in construction site.

Development of the site-specific safety plan was no simple matter but was put together by a team of safety experts from within JFW’s in-house safety department, their insurers, and outside safety consultant OHS

60,000 feet of 9-inch steel pipe required for mini-pile support system – 262 piles averaging 230 feet – 55 trailers of steel pipe

Mini-pile operation north side (I-90 WB) of site with recirculation tanks for drilling spoils

JFW Fenway Project continued from page 47

Training & Consulting of Brighton, MA (also a UCANE member). It is a “live” document with modifications and updates being made as the project advances.

Safety meetings with project team members, including subs, are a minimum of weekly to discuss upcoming work and crew details, shifts in work locations, heavy equipment movement, material deliveries, rigging procedures, changes in traffic controls, etc. Tom McNally is the lead Safety Supervisor for JFW on the Fenway Center Project and leads a team where safety is everyone’s job. As of this writing, and with the foundation and deck project at 65% complete, the project team has earned welldeserved boasting rights with lost-time injury rates substantially below the industry average.

Project Schedule

Continuing the steel framework is the immediate focus, with the decking panels scheduled to begin in July 2023. Activity on the vertical component of the project is expected to begin in October 2023, with JFW and John Moriarty & Associates sharing the site for several months. Subsequently, JFW is scheduled to wrap up with the fireproofing, electrical, and paving portions of its deck and foundation project by Spring 2024. Developers IQHQ and Merideth Management are actively negotiating leasing opportunities for space with

UCANE Member Companies working with J. F. White on the Fenway Project

• ATS Equipment, Inc.

• Badger Daylighting

• GeoEngineers

• Lockwood Remediation Technologies

• S.M. Lorusso & Sons, Inc.

• MiltonCAT

• Milton Rents

• OHS Training & Consulting, Inc.

• Scituate Concrete Products

• C.N. Wood Company, Inc.

• United Rentals Trench Safety

• U.S. Pipe

• United Concrete Products

4’x4’ steel box columns in place to receive plate girder beams crossing over thr Mass. Pike that will support the 2-acre deck on which the $1 billion Fenway Center project will be built.

Photo by Justin Nardella courtesy of IQHQ

Tim Hunt, CHST Dir. of Envt’l, Health and Safety

Patrick W. Saltmarsh Corporate Safety Director J. Derenzo Companies

Understanding Heat Stress in Construction: OSHA's Requirements for Worker Safety

Working in the construction industry often involves exposure to various occupational hazards, and one of the significant challenges construction workers face is heat stress. Heat stress occurs when the body's natural cooling mechanisms cannot dissipate heat effectively, leading to potentially dangerous health conditions. Recognizing the importance of safeguarding worker well-being, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established requirements and guidelines to prevent and mitigate heat-related illnesses in the construction sector.

Heat stress is a condition that arises when the body's core temperature rises above its normal range (around 98.6°F) due to excessive heat exposure. Construction workers are particularly vulnerable to heat stress due to the physical demands of their work, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and the presence of reflective surfaces and equipment that radiate heat.

OSHA's Requirements for Heat Stress Prevention:

1. Implementing a Heat Illness Prevention Program: OSHA mandates that construction companies develop and implement a comprehensive heat illness prevention program. This program should include training for workers and supervisors, emphasizing recognizing, preventing, and treating heatrelated illnesses.

2. Providing Adequate Water and Rest Breaks: Employers must ensure that potable

water is readily available for workers and encourage them to drink water frequently. Additionally, employers must provide rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas to allow workers to cool down and recover from heat stress.

3. Acclimatization: OSHA stresses the importance of gradually acclimatizing workers to hot working conditions. New or returning workers should have a period of adjustment to build up their tolerance to heat. This may

continued on page 53

W. L. French Excavating Corp.

Safety Corner continued from page 51

involve limiting the duration and intensity of work during the initial days or weeks.

4. Engineering Controls: Employers must implement engineering controls to reduce heat exposure. This can include using ventilation, shading, or air conditioning to create more excellent work areas. Employers should also consider modifying work schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day.

5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): OSHA advises using appropriate personal protective equipment to mitigate heat stress. This may include lightweight, breathable clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and sunscreen to protect workers from direct sun exposure. Employers should also consider providing cooling vests or other cooling devices where feasible.

6. Monitoring and Training: Regular monitoring of weather conditions and heat indexes are crucial to assessing heat stress risk levels. OSHA requires employers to train workers and supervisors on the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, emergency response procedures, and the importance of early intervention.

Heat stress is a severe concern in the construction industry, jeopardizing worker safety and productivity. OSHA's requirements play a vital role in ensuring the well-being of construction workers by establishing guidelines for heat stress prevention. By implementing heat illness prevention programs, providing adequate water and rest breaks, acclimatizing workers, employing engineering controls, supplying appropriate PPE, and offering training and monitoring, employers can create safer work-

ing conditions and protect their workforce from the dangers of heat stress.

It is essential for construction companies to understand and comply with OSHA's requirements and to go above and beyond by fostering a culture of safety. By prioritizing heat stress prevention measures, employers can mitigate the risks associated with heat exposure, reduce the likelihood of heat-related illnesses, and promote a healthier and more productive work environment for their employees.

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Serves over 2500 customers a week and is one of New England’s largest buyers, sellers, and processors of scrap metal. For over 60 years our goal has remained the same - to provide the best prices in the industry along with top notch customer service! Call Fred Rogers at 617-595-5505

Serves over 2500 one New England's sellers and processors over 60 years the same - to provide industry along customer service! 595-5505

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MASSACHUSETTS WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY 2022 DRINKING WATER TEST RESULTS

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority has begun mailing its Annual Water Quality Report to every household in its service area.

“MWRA takes hundreds of thousands of tests each year and for 2022, we again met every federal and state drinking water standard, said MWRA Executive Director, Fred Laskey. “PFAS - or ‘forever chemicals’ – are present in some drinking water. Because our source water is so well protected, our water meets the current state, and recently proposed federal, standards with levels so low they cannot be quantified. We have great confidence in the water we deliver to the homes and businesses in our service area, and we want our customers to have that same confidence.”

MWRA also continues to take actions

to reduce the risk of lead in drinking water. Since 2016, MWRA has provided $34 million in zero-interest loans to 14 communities to be used for full lead service line removals.

The report is distributed to over 850,000 homes in the MWRA service area as required under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Community-specific inserts also provide information about municipal water systems in the MWRA service area.

The reports, including a Spanish language version, are available on-line and can be translated into several languages. Larger-print versions are available upon request.

For more information, please visit MWRA’s website at www.mwra.com or call 617-242-5323.

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

MWRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rebecca Tepper, Chair

Andrew Pappastergion, Vice Chair

Brian Peña, Secretary

Paul E. Flanagan

Joseph C. Foti

Louis M. Taverna

Henry F. Vitale

John J. Walsh

Patrick J. Walsh

Rev. Mariama White-Hammond

Jennifer L. Wolowicz

No matter how you say it, water is essential. And you can be sure that the safety of your drinking water is the top priority for the women and men of the MWRA.

This report provides you with the results of our annual drinking water testing for 2022. We take hundreds of thousands of tests each year to ensure that your water is safe and our state-of-the-art surveillance system monitors your water every step of the way. Once again, every federal and state standard was met and the quality of your drinking water is excellent.

Every day, we see news stories about PFAS—or ‘forever chemicals’—in drinking water. Because our source water is so well protected, our water meets the current state, and recently proposed federal standards with levels so low they cannot be quantified.

We also continue to take actions to reduce the risk of lead in drinking water. System-wide, we remain below the Lead Action Level. Since 2016, we have provided $34 million in zero-interest loans to 14 communities for full lead service line removals. Please read your community’s letter on page 7 for more information on your local water system, and consider replacing your lead service line if your home has one.

Last summer, our region experienced a significant drought. Thanks to all of our customers’ efforts to use water wisely, MWRA’s reservoirs remained at normal operating levels. It is important that we always conserve water wherever possible. As stewards of these reservoirs, we know how precious a resource we have and we cannot afford to waste it.

I hope you will take a moment to read this report. We want you to have the same confidence in the water we deliver to your homes and businesses as we do. Please contact us if you have any questions or comments about your water quality, or any of MWRA’s programs.

Sincerely,

Frederick A. Laskey Executive Director

For more information on MWRA and its Board of Directors, visit www.mwra.com

continued on page 57

MWRA continued from page 55

All The Way From Quabbin, To All Of Us

All The Way From Quabbin, To All Of Us

Massachusetts experienced a significant drought during 2022, with about 30 percent less precipitation than normal. Thanks to our customer’s wise use of water during the drought and the long-term reduction in water use, MWRA’s reservoirs stayed well within normal operating range throughout the year, and no mandatory restrictions were needed. This annual water quality report illustrates MWRA’s ongoing efforts to provide you with safe water under all conditions.

Massachusetts experienced a significant drought during 2022, with about 30 percent less precipitation than normal. Thanks to our customer’s wise use of water during the drought and the long-term reduction in water use, MWRA’s reservoirs stayed well within normal operating range throughout the year, and no mandatory restrictions were needed. This annual water quality report illustrates MWRA’s ongoing efforts to provide you with safe water under all conditions.

MWRA works with your community, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and state and federal regulators to provide and protect your drinking water. From the reservoirs surrounded by forests and wetlands, through treatment and miles of pipelines, to your drinking water faucet, MWRA’s laboratories conduct hundreds of thousands of tests on your water every year.

other potential pathogens, from human and animal activity that can cause illness. Testing results show that few contaminants are found in the reservoir water, and those few are in very small amounts well below EPA’s standards.

other potential pathogens, from human and animal activity that can cause illness. Testing results show that few contaminants are found in the reservoir water, and those few are in very small amounts well below EPA’s standards.

test results for the reservoir water were well within state and federal testing and treatment standards. Learn more about MWRA test results for waterborne contaminants and their potential health impacts at: www.mwra.com

test results for the reservoir water were well within state and federal testing and treatment standards. Learn more about MWRA test results for waterborne contaminants and their potential health impacts at: www.mwra.com

MWRA works with your community, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and state and federal regulators to provide and protect your drinking water. From the reservoirs surrounded by forests and wetlands, through treatment and miles of pipelines, to your drinking water faucet, MWRA’s laboratories conduct hundreds of thousands of tests on your water every year.

The water MWRA and your community provide to your home or business starts with our two pristine reservoirs in central Massachusetts—the Quabbin Reservoir, 65 miles from Boston, and the Wachusett Reservoir, 35 miles from Boston. Combined, these two reservoirs provide an average of 200 million gallons of pure, highly protected, high quality water each day to 53 communities. The Ware River provides additional water when needed.

The water MWRA and your community provide to your home or business starts with our two pristine reservoirs in central Massachusetts—the Quabbin Reservoir, 65 miles from Boston, and the Wachusett Reservoir, 35 miles from Boston. Combined, these two reservoirs provide an average of 200 million gallons of pure, highly protected, high quality water each day to 53 communities. The Ware River provides additional water when needed.

The Quabbin and Wachusett watersheds—areas that drain water to the reservoirs—are naturally protected. More than 85% of the land is covered with forests and wetlands, which filter the rain and snow that enter the streams that flow to the reservoirs. This water comes in contact with soil, rock, plants, and other material as it follows its natural path to the reservoirs. This process helps to clean the water, but it also can dissolve and carry very small amounts of material into the reservoir. Minerals and rock do not typically cause problems in the water. Water can also transport contaminants, including bacteria, viruses or

MWRA and DCR work together to implement our nationally recognized watershed protection program. The Department of Environmental Protection’s (MassDEP) Source Water Assessment report for the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs commended DCR and MWRA for our source water protection plans. The report states that our “watershed protection programs are very successful and greatly reduce the actual risk of contamination.” MWRA and DCR follow the report recommendations to maintain the pristine watershed areas and high quality source water. For more information on our source water, go to: www.mwra.com/sourcewater.html.

MWRA and DCR work together to implement our nationally recognized watershed protection program. The Department of Environmental Protection’s (MassDEP) Source Water Assessment report for the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs commended DCR and MWRA for our source water protection plans. The report states that our “watershed protection programs are very successful and greatly reduce the actual risk of contamination.” MWRA and DCR follow the report recommendations to maintain the pristine watershed areas and high quality source water. For more information on our source water, go to: www.mwra.com/sourcewater.html

Water: Tested From the Source MWRA analyzes, treats and protects the quality of your water, starting with the watershed streams, to the billions of gallons of water in the reservoirs, to hundreds of miles of MWRA pipes and thousands of miles of local pipes, all the way to your home.

Water: Tested From the Source MWRA analyzes, treats and protects the quality of your water, starting with the watershed streams, to the billions of gallons of water in the reservoirs, to hundreds of miles of MWRA pipes and thousands of miles of local pipes, all the way to your home.

A key, initial test for reservoir water quality is turbidity, or cloudiness. Turbidity refers to the amount of suspended particles in the water and can impair water disinfection. All water must be below 5 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units), and water can only be above 1 NTU if it does not interfere with effective disinfection. In 2022, typical levels in the Wachusett Reservoir were 0.30 NTU, and even at its highest level of 1.07 NTU for one hour during a December storm, disinfection met all requirements.

The Quabbin and Wachusett watersheds—areas that drain water to the reservoirs—are naturally protected. More than 85% of the land is covered with forests and wetlands, which filter the rain and snow that enter the streams that flow to the reservoirs. This water comes in contact with soil, rock, plants, and other material as it follows its natural path to the reservoirs. This process helps to clean the water, but it also can dissolve and carry very small amounts of material into the reservoir. Minerals and rock do not typically cause problems in the water. Water can also transport contaminants, including bacteria, viruses or

MWRA Water Test Results 2022

A key, initial test for reservoir water quality is turbidity, or cloudiness. Turbidity refers to the amount of suspended particles in the water and can impair water disinfection. All water must be below 5 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units), and water can only be above 1 NTU if it does not interfere with effective disinfection. In 2022, typical levels in the Wachusett Reservoir were 0.30 NTU, and even at its highest level of 1.07 NTU for one hour during a December storm, disinfection met all requirements.

MWRA also tests water for potential disease-causing organisms, including fecal coliform bacteria, and parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, that can enter the water from animal or human waste. All

MWRA also tests water for potential disease-causing organisms, including fecal coliform bacteria, and parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, that can enter the water from animal or human waste. All

MWRA Water Test Results 2022

EPA requires that MWRA test for over 120 contaminants that may be in drinking water. MWRA found only those listed here. All of these levels were below EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL).

Your Annual Water Quality Report

Your Annual Water Quality Report

This report provides consumers of MWRA water with important information on water quality. MWRA also has monthly water quality reports, information on specific potential contaminants, water system updates, and more at www.mwra.com

We welcome your questions at 617-242-5323 or Ask.MWRA@mwra.com

This report provides consumers of MWRA water with important information on water quality. MWRA also has monthly water quality reports, information on specific potential contaminants, water system updates, and more at www.mwra.com We welcome your questions at 617-242-5323 or Ask.MWRA@mwra.com.

EPA requires that MWRA test for over 120 contaminants that may be in drinking water. MWRA found only those listed here. All of these levels were below EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL).

Byproduct

Byproduct

KEY: MCL=Maximum Contaminant Level. The highest level of a contaminant allowed in water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available technology. MCLG=Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. MRDL=Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. MRDLG=Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected health risk. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination. ppm=parts per million ppb=parts per billion NS=no standard ^=As required by DEP, the maximum result is reported, not the average.

KEY: MCL=Maximum Contaminant Level. The highest level of a contaminant allowed in water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available technology. MCLG=Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. MRDL=Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. MRDLG=Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected health risk. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination. ppm=parts per million ppb=parts per billion NS=no standard ^=As required by DEP, the maximum result is reported, not the average.

continued on page 59

MWRA

Great Water From Forest To Faucet

Great Water From Forest To Faucet

Treatment Plant

Treatment Plant Namesake Passes On

Namesake Passes On John J. Carroll served on the MWRA Board of Directors as its Vice Chair from the Authority’s inception in 1985 until his death in February 2023. In 2005, the MWRA Board honored his many contributions to the MWRA mission by naming the new water treatment plant after him.

Water Monitoring After Treatment

Water Monitoring After Treatment

EPA and state regulations require regular monitoring of water quality to evaluate the water you drink. MWRA conducts hundreds of thousands of tests per year on over 120 contaminants. A complete list is available on www.mwra.com. The results of MWRA’s water quality tests in 2022 are shown in the table on page 2. They confirm the quality and safety of the water your community and you receive from MWRA.

EPA and state regulations require regular monitoring of water quality to evaluate the water you drink. MWRA conducts hundreds of thousands of tests per year on over 120 contaminants. A complete list is available on www.mwra.com. The results of MWRA’s water quality tests in 2022 are shown in the table on page 2. They confirm the quality and safety of the water your community and you receive from MWRA.

John J. Carroll served on the MWRA Board of Directors as its Vice Chair from the Authority’s inception in 1985 until his death in February 2023. In 2005, the MWRA Board honored his many contributions to the MWRA mission by naming the new water treatment plant after him.

Treating Your Water

Treating Your Water

MWRA’s John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant in Marlborough provides state-of-the-art treatment monitoring of your water. Our well trained licensed operators add measured doses of treatment chemicals.

Sodium and Drinking Water

Sodium and Drinking Water

Building Redundancy for Reliability

Building Redundancy for Reliability

MWRA’s John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant in Marlborough provides state-of-the-art treatment and monitoring of your water. Our well trained and licensed operators add measured doses of treatment chemicals.

Planning and environmental review for two new tunnels north and south of Boston to provide reliable service to the entire region is underway. We also have major projects underway to rehabilitate the Weston Aqueduct Supply Main 3, a 60-inch pipe in Weston, Waltham, Belmont, Arlington and Medford, as well as a 48-inch pipe in Stoneham and Woburn. Maintaining the system and adding redundancy allows us to continue uninterrupted water delivery to your community, even if sections of our system need inspection, repair or rehabilitation. See www.mwra.com for more information.

Planning and environmental review for two new tunnels north and south of Boston to provide reliable service to the entire region is underway. We also have major projects underway to rehabilitate the Weston Aqueduct Supply Main 3, a 60-inch pipe in Weston, Waltham, Belmont, Arlington and Medford, as well as a 48-inch pipe in Stoneham and Woburn. Maintaining the system and adding redundancy allows us to continue uninterrupted water delivery to your community, even if sections of our system need inspection, repair or rehabilitation. See www.mwra.com for more information.

MWRA tests for sodium monthly, and the highest level was 38.1 mg/L (about 10 mg per 8 oz. glass). This level would be considered to be Very Low Sodium by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Sodium in drinking water contributes only a small fraction of a person’s overall sodium intake (less than 5%).

MWRA tests for sodium monthly, and the highest level was 38.1 mg/L (about 10 mg per 8 oz. glass). This level would be considered to be Very Low Sodium by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Sodium in drinking water contributes only a small fraction of a person’s overall sodium intake (less than 5%).

Your Water Wins Awards

Your Water Wins Awards

The MWRA received an award from Mass DEP for outstanding performance in 2022.

The MWRA received an award from Mass DEP for outstanding performance in 2022.

• Ozone, made from pure oxygen, disinfects the water, killing bacteria, viruses and other organisms, and improves water clarity and taste.

Ozone, made from pure oxygen, disinfects the water, killing bacteria, viruses and other organisms, and improves water clarity and taste.

Ultraviolet light (UV), a more powerful form of the natural disinfection of sunlight, renders pathogens non-infectious.

• Ultraviolet light (UV), a more powerful form of the natural disinfection of sunlight, renders pathogens non-infectious.

Your community is investing in reliability as well. MWRA provides zero–interest loans to communities for pipeline rehabilitation and other water quality improvements. During 2022, we loaned $29 million to 15 communities for pipeline projects.

Your community is investing in reliability as well. MWRA provides zero–interest loans to communities for pipeline rehabilitation and other water quality improvements. During 2022, we loaned $29 million to 15 communities for pipeline projects.

Conservation, Climate Change, and Your Reservoirs

Conservation, Climate Change, and Your Reservoirs

• Fluoride protects dental health.

Fluoride protects dental health. The water chemistry is adjusted to reduce corrosion of lead from home plumbing.

• The water chemistry is adjusted to reduce corrosion of lead from home plumbing.

Fun Fact

Fun Fact

• Monochloramine (a compound of chlorine and ammonia), provides a mild and long-lasting disinfectant to protect the water as it travels through miles of pipes to your home.

Monochloramine (a compound of chlorine and ammonia), provides a mild and long-lasting disinfectant to protect the water as it travels through miles of pipes to your home.

Did you know Quabbin means “great waters”? While the Nipmuc Native American name could be understood to mean that or “place of many waters,” we know it means great tasting water.

Did you know Quabbin means “great waters”? While the Nipmuc Native American name could be understood to mean that or “place of many waters,” we know it means great tasting water.

To be sure that we can supply all the water you need in both wet and dry years, now and in the future, MWRA works with the communities we serve to promote water conservation. Efficient and wise use of our water keeps it available for the future. For information on water use, reservoir levels and conservation, go to www.mwra.com

To be sure that we can supply all the water you need in both wet and dry years, now and in the future, MWRA works with the communities we serve to promote water conservation. Efficient and wise use of our water keeps it available for the future. For information on water use, reservoir levels and conservation, go to www.mwra.com

continued on page 61

MWRA continued from page 59

What We All Need To Know About Lead

What We All Need To Know About Lead

While there is no lead in your source water, lead can be found in your home, including from your plumbing. Learn about the health impacts of lead, and how to reduce exposure to this toxic metal.

While there is no lead in your source water, lead can be found in your home, including from your plumbing. Learn about the health impacts of lead, and how to reduce exposure to this toxic metal.

How Lead Affects Health and Development

How Lead Affects Health and Development

Lead affects young children, and may cause damage to the brain, slow growth and development, and learning and behavior problems. Preventing lead exposure is particularly important if a pregnant woman or a child lives in your home or apartment. Lead can also impact the health of your entire family. While lead poisoning frequently comes from exposure to lead paint dust or chips, lead in drinking water can also contribute to total lead exposure.

Lead affects young children, and may cause damage to the brain, slow growth and development, and learning and behavior problems. Preventing lead exposure is particularly important if a pregnant woman or a child lives in your home or apartment. Lead can also impact the health of your entire family. While lead poisoning frequently comes from exposure to lead paint dust or chips, lead in drinking water can also contribute to total lead exposure.

Important Lead Information From EPA

Important Lead Information From EPA

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water comes primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. MWRA is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water comes primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. MWRA is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of

materials used in plumbing components. If your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or www.epa.gov/ safewater/lead.

materials used in plumbing components. If your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or www.epa.gov/ safewater/lead.

How Lead Can Enter Your Water

How Lead Can Enter Your Water

Lead in your home plumbing or a lead service line can contribute to elevated lead levels in the water

Lead in your home plumbing or a lead service line can contribute to elevated lead levels in the water

you drink. MWRA’s water is lead-free when it leaves our reservoirs. Water mains are made mostly of iron, steel or concrete, and do not add lead to the water. Lead can enter your tap water from your service line (the line that connects your home to the water main) if it is made of lead, lead solder used in plumbing, or from some older brass faucets.

you drink. MWRA’s water is lead-free when it leaves our reservoirs. Water mains are made mostly of iron, steel or concrete, and do not add lead to the water. Lead can enter your tap water from your service line (the line that connects your home to the water main) if it is made of lead, lead solder used in plumbing, or from some older brass faucets.

Corrosion, or wearing away of lead-based materials, can add lead to tap water, especially if water sits for a long time in the pipes before it is used. MWRA’s water treatment helps limit the amount of lead in your water. In 1996, MWRA began adding sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide to adjust the water’s pH and buffering capacity. This treatment makes the water less corrosive and reduces leaching of lead into drinking water. Lead levels found in tap water samples have dropped by nearly 90% since this treatment change. Learn more about lead in drinking water at www.mwra.com.

Corrosion, or wearing away of lead-based materials, can add lead to tap water, especially if water sits for a long time in the pipes before it is used. MWRA’s water treatment helps limit the amount of lead in your water. In 1996, MWRA began adding sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide to adjust the water’s pH and buffering capacity. This treatment makes the water less corrosive and reduces leaching of lead into drinking water. Lead levels found in tap water samples have dropped by nearly 90% since this treatment change. Learn more about lead in drinking water at www.mwra.com.

MWRA Meets Lead Standard in 2022

MWRA Meets Lead Standard in 2022

Under EPA and MassDEP rules, MWRA and your local water department are required to test tap water each year. Because we collect samples from homes with lead service lines or lead solder, the results do not reflect lead levels in all homes. The EPA rule requires that 9 out of 10 homes tested (90%) must have lead levels below the Action Level of 15 parts per billion (ppb).

Under EPA and MassDEP rules, MWRA and your local water department are required to test tap water each year. Because we collect samples from homes with lead service lines or lead solder, the results do not reflect lead levels in all homes. The EPA rule requires that 9 out of 10 homes tested (90%) must have lead levels below the Action Level of 15 parts per billion (ppb).

Lead & Copper Results, September 2022

September 2022

Key: AL=Action Level - The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Key: AL=Action Level - The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

90% Lead Levels in MWRA System of Fully Served Communities (ppb)

90% Lead Levels in MWRA System of Fully Served Communities (ppb)

This testing process can provide information on whether lead is corroding and mixing with the drinking water. It also provides communities and you with information on how to reduce lead in your drinking water.

This testing process can provide information on whether lead is corroding and mixing with the drinking water. It also provides communities and you with information on how to reduce lead in your drinking water.

Nine out of 10 homes tested in the MWRA service area were below 7.3 ppb—well below the Action Level. All sampling rounds over the past 19 years have been below the EPA Action Level.

Nine out of 10 homes tested in the MWRA service area were below 7.3 ppb—well below the Action Level. All sampling rounds over the past 19 years have been below the EPA Action Level.

Only one community—Winthrop—was above the lead Action Level in September 2022. Your community letter on Page 7 will provide you with local results and more information.

Only one community—Winthrop—was above the lead Action Level in September 2022. Your community letter on Page 7 will provide you with local results and more information.

What is An Action Level?

What is An Action Level?

An Action Level is the amount of lead that requires action to reduce exposure. If your home or school’s drinking water is above the lead Action Level, additional steps to reduce lead may be required. If more than 10% of your community’s samples were over the lead Action Level, your local water department is taking action to address the problem. See page 7.

An Action Level is the amount of lead that requires action to reduce exposure. If your home or school’s drinking water is above the lead Action Level, additional steps to reduce lead may be required. If more than 10% of your community’s samples were over the lead Action Level, your local water department is taking action to address the problem. See page 7.

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Your water service line connects your home to the water main which runs under your street.

What We All Can Do To Reduce Lead

What We All Can Do To Reduce Lead

Lead Service Lines

Lead Service Lines

A service line connects your home or building to the water main in the street. If yours is made of lead, it can be the main source of lead in your tap water. Older galvanized iron pipes with lead connectors (“goosenecks”) can also release lead. Lead service lines should be removed entirely to reduce lead in your drinking water.

A service line connects your home or building to the water main in the street. If yours is made of lead, it can be the main source of lead in your tap water. Older galvanized iron pipes with lead connectors (“goosenecks”) can also release lead. Lead service lines should be removed entirely to reduce lead in your drinking water.

Replacing Lead Service Lines

Replacing Lead Service Lines

Your local water department can help find out if you have a lead service line, and provide help in replacing it. In some cases, an onsite check may be needed.

Reduce Your Exposure to Lead

How to Test Your Drinking Water

Remove Lead Piping

Reduce Your Exposure to Lead

Remove Lead Piping

• Find out if you have a lead service line. Learn about replacement options from your local water department.

How to Test Your Drinking Water

• Find out if you have a lead service line. Learn about replacement options from your local water department.

Other Measures for Lead Reduction

Other Measures for Lead Reduction

• Any time water has not been used for more than 6 hours, run the faucet used for drinking water or cooking until after the water becomes cold.

Your local water department can help find out if you have a lead service line, and provide help in replacing it. In some cases, an onsite check may be needed.

You can also check if your service line is made of lead by scratching the pipe near your water meter with a key or other metal object. Lead pipes will show a dull grey color, while copper pipes will not. For an online how-to guide, go to www.epa.gov/pyt.

You can also check if your service line is made of lead by scratching the pipe near your water meter with a key or other metal object. Lead pipes will show a dull grey color, while copper pipes will not. For an online how-to guide, go to www.epa.gov/pyt.

MWRA Funding to Replace Lead Service Lines

MWRA Funding to Replace Lead Service Lines

MWRA and its Advisory Board offer zero-interest loans to customer communities for full lead service line replacement projects. Each MWRA community can develop its own local plan, and many communities have already taken steps to remove lead service lines. Since 2016, MWRA has provided $34 million to 14 communities to fully replace lead service lines. To find out more, contact your local water department.

If you are concerned about lead piping in your home, contact your local water department about testing your drinking water. MWRA also maintains a list of certified laboratories and sampling instructions at www.mwra.com. You may also call MWRA at 617-242-5323.

If you are concerned about lead piping in your home, contact your local water department about testing your drinking water. MWRA also maintains a list of certified laboratories and sampling instructions at www.mwra.com. You may also call MWRA at 617-242-5323.

• Any time water has not been used for more than 6 hours, run the faucet used for drinking water or cooking until after the water becomes cold.

• Let water run before using it—fresh water is better than stale. To save water, fill a pitcher with fresh water and place it in the refrigerator for future use.

Lead Testing in Schools

Lead Testing in Schools

• Let water run before using it—fresh water is better than stale. To save water, fill a pitcher with fresh water and place it in the refrigerator for future use.

• Never use hot water from the faucet for drinking or cooking, especially when making baby formula or other food for infants or young children.

• Never use hot water from the faucet for drinking or cooking, especially when making baby formula or other food for infants or young children.

• Remove loose lead solder and debris. Every few months, remove the aerator from each faucet and flush the pipes for 3 to 5 minutes.

• Remove loose lead solder and debris. Every few months, remove the aerator from each faucet and flush the pipes for 3 to 5 minutes.

MWRA and its Advisory Board offer zero-interest loans to customer communities for full lead service line replacement projects. Each MWRA community can develop its own local plan, and many communities have already taken steps to remove lead service lines. Since 2016, MWRA has provided $34 million to 14 communities to fully replace lead service lines. To find out more, contact your local water department.

• Be careful of places where you may find lead in or near your home. Paint, soil, dust and pottery may contain lead. Call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 1-800-532-9571 or 1-800-424LEAD for information on lead and health impacts.

• Be careful of places where you may find lead in or near your home. Paint, soil, dust and pottery may contain lead. Call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 1-800-532-9571 or 1-800-424LEAD for information on lead and health impacts.

Children can consume most of their drinking water at school or daycare. The plumbing inside some schools and childcare facilities can contain lead and contribute to lead exposure. MWRA, in coordination with MassDEP, provides no-cost lab analysis and technical assistance for schools and day care centers in MWRA communities. This service has been offered since 2016, and nearly all MWRA communities have participated. To date, more than 40,000 tests have been completed in more than 560 schools. Results are available on the MassDEP website at: www.mass.gov/dep (search for “lead in schools”). You may also contact your local school or water department for results.

Children can consume most of their drinking water at school or daycare. The plumbing inside some schools and childcare facilities can contain lead and contribute to lead exposure. MWRA, in coordination with MassDEP, provides no-cost lab analysis and technical assistance for schools and day care centers in MWRA communities. This service has been offered since 2016, and nearly all MWRA communities have participated. To date, more than 40,000 tests have been completed in more than 560 schools. Results are available on the MassDEP website at: www.mass.gov/dep (search for “lead in schools”). You may also contact your local school or water department for results.

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Water Service Lines — Lead and Copper

Water Service Lines — Lead and Copper

You can identify lead service line by carefully scratching with a key.

You can identify lead service line by carefully scratching with a key.

New copper service line.

New copper service line.

3 Ways to reduce lead in your water:

• Remove your lead service line

• Run your water before using

• Use a filter certified to remove lead

MWRA continued from page 63

Information We All Need

Cross-Connection Information

A cross-connection is any temporary or permanent connection between a potable (drinking) water source and a non-potable source. Non-potable water or other sources can contaminate your drinking water if backflow occurs.

Sources could include:

• Garden hoses

• Boilers

• Swimming pools

• Irrigation systems or wells

• Residential fire protection systems

Testing in Local Pipes

MWRA works with local water departments to sample and test 300-500 water samples each week for total coliform bacteria. Total coliform bacteria can come from the intestines of warm blooded animals, or can be found in soil, plants, or other places. Most of the time, they are not harmful. However, their presence could signal that harmful bacteria from fecal waste may be there as well. If any water sample does test positive, we run a more specific test for E. coli, which is a bacteria found in human and animal fecal waste and may cause illness. If total coliform is detected in more than 5% of samples in a month, the water system is required to investigate the possible source and fix any identified problems. If your community was required to do an investigation, or found E. coli, it will be in the letter from your

Important Research for New Regulations

MWRA works with EPA and health research organizations to help define new national drinking water standards by collecting data on water contaminants that are not yet regulated. Very few of these potential contaminants are found in MWRA water due to our source water protection efforts. Detailed information on testing for unregulated contaminants, as well as data on PFAS, disinfection byproducts, Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and other contaminants can be found at www.mwra.com.

MWRA Monitoring for PFAS

PFAS compounds, used since the 1940s for many purposes, from stain and waterproofing to firefighting, continue to be a concern. Tests of MWRA water show only trace amounts of these compounds, too small to be quantified, and well below the state standard of 20 parts per trillion. MWRA results are also well below recently proposed EPA standards. See www.mwra.com for full details and all results.

Important Health Information: Drinking Water and People with Weakened Immune Systems

Massachusetts DEP recommends the installation of backflow prevention devices for inside and outside hose connections to help protect the water in your home as well as the drinking water system in your town. For more information on cross-connections, please call 617-242-5323 or visit www.mwra.com.

EPA Information on Bottled Water and Tap Water

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or MWRA. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Massachusetts DEP and the EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

We listen to you!

You can help provide information about local water quality. Every call is investigated. Most complaints are related to discolored water (usually related to local construction or hydrant use), or conditions in a building’s plumbing. If you have a concern, contact your local water department, or call MWRA at (617) 242-5323.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants, can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Continue to Conserve

MWRA water use has dropped by over a third since the 1980s. It’s up to all of us to continue to use water wisely. Every drop is valuable. Our website has many tips on how to save water indoors and outside.

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City Of Boston

Boston Water And Sewer Commission

980 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02119-2540

617-989-7000

Dear Customer:

This report contains an annual update on the quality of drinking water supplied to you by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC), in partnership with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). This report provides detailed information on the MWRA’s system and illustrates that the water delivered to Boston complies with federal and state quality standards.

BWSC was ranked highest in customer satisfaction in the Northeast by J.D. Power in their 2022 Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study. This was the second time in four years that we received this prestigious award. The study was based on several factors that included water quality, reliability, and conservation. In our efforts to promote conservation activities, this past year BWSC distributed over 750 water conservation kits to Boston residents.

BWSC continues to provide excellent drinking water to our customers through the investment of millions of dollars in upgrades to our infrastructure. The water provided by BWSC comes from the MWRA’s reservoirs, and the water is lead-free. Most BWSC distribution pipes that carry water to our customers are made of iron, steel, and copper. During BWSC’s Fall 2022 mandatory testing for lead in higher risk homes with lead service lines, the 90th percentile for lead was 12.6 parts per billion (ppb) below the Action Level (AL) of 15 ppb. The 90th percentile result for copper was 77.5 ppb, below the AL of 1300 ppb. The Commission has undertaken an accelerated program to identify and eliminate lead service lines, both in the public way, and on private property.

A principal priority of Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration is the health, and safety of the residents of Boston. The Commission’s outreach to property owners is facilitated by the Commission’s Lead Hotline. BWSC customers should call our Lead Hotline to schedule an inspection of their water service pipe, to determine whether it is composed of lead. In 2022, BWSC received over 380 customer requests to have their water service pipe inspected for lead, as well as performed vacuum investigations of 1,119 services, resulting in 324 lead replacements. BWSC’s Lead Replacement Incentive Program offers financial assistance to eligible property owners, in the form of a credit of up to $4,000.00 towards the cost of the replacement with the ability to pay any remaining balance interest-free over a 60-month period. For additional information about lead in drinking water and the Lead Replacement Incentive Program, call our lead hotline at (617) 989-7888. That information is also available on our website at: www.bwsc.org/environmenteducation/lead-your-water. Any questions regarding Commission meetings, or other information contained in this report, may be directed to BWSC’s Communications, and our Community Services Department at (617) 989-7250.

Sincerely,

Henry F. Vitale, CPA Executive Director/Treasurer

• Pre-mark the location of intended excavation using white stakes, paint or flags.

• In MA, ME, NH and RI, notify Dig Safe® at least 72 hours in advance, not including weekends and holidays.

• In Vermont, notify Dig Safe® at least 48 hours in advance.

• Notify non-member facility owners.

• Maintain the marks placed by underground facility owners.

• Use caution and dig by hand when working within 18” of a marked facility.

• If a line is damaged, do not backfill. Notify the affected utility company immediately if the facility, its protective coating, or a tracer wire is damaged.

• Call 911 in the event of a gas leak, or if a damaged facility poses a risk to public safety.

• Know your state’s excavation requirements.

• Go to digsafe.com for educational material and current laws.

Navigating Construction Risks: How Inland

Marine Insurance Keeps Projects Afloat

In the construction industry, insurance is crucial to protect against unforeseen events that can disrupt projects and jeopardize financial stability. Inland marine insurance is a valuable solution that fills coverage gaps for portable or specialized property.

This article explores the unique benefits of inland marine insurance, equipping contractors and builders with the knowledge to safeguard their assets and navigate the industry confidently.

Understanding Inland Marine Insurance

Inland marine insurance offers flexible and comprehensive coverage for property frequently on the move, such as construction equipment, tools, and supplies. Unlike traditional property insurance, it extends beyond fixed locations.

Key coverage areas include:

• Builder's Risk Insurance: Protects against damage to buildings or structures under construction, renovation, or repair.

• Contractor's Equipment Insurance: Covers valuable equipment against theft, damage, or loss on job sites or during transportation.

• Installation Coverage: Safeguards machinery and equipment during transit, installation, and testing at various project sites.

• Rigger's Liability Insurance: Provides specialized liability coverage for contractors handling and transporting others' equipment.

• Motor Truck Cargo Liability: Provides coverage when mobilizing the goods or equipment of others in your care, custody, or control.

Risks Addressed by Inland Marine Insurance:

Theft Risks: Covers the high-value and portable asset

Waterborne Equipment Risks: Protects equipment that may be on vessels, barges or used on floating work platforms.

Rental Equipment Exposures: Addresses additional risks and liabilities when contractors use rented equipment.

• Continued rental payment coverage.

• Pollutant clean up coverage.

Top Five Tips for Choosing the Right Coverage:

1. Evaluate Coverage Limits: Select limits that adequately protect the value of your equipment and assets.

2. Review Policy Exclusions: Look for policies with minimal or industry-relevant exclusions.

continued on page 70

Christopher Clark World Insurance Associates, Inc.

3. Assess Additional Coverage Options: Consider endorsements or riders that provide additional protection for specific risks.

4. Understand Deductibles: Find a balance between affordable premiums and manageable deductibles.

5. Consider Carrier Reputation: Choose insurance carriers with a solid track record of prompt and fair claims settlement.

Inland marine insurance is vital to a robust risk management strategy, providing peace of mind and long-term financial stability. Moreover, inland marine insurance is crucial in ensuring project continuity by minimizing delays caused by unexpected events. With comprehensive coverage, contractors can confidently focus on their projects, knowing their assets are safeguarded and any potential losses are mitigated. n

5 Ways of Addressing the Labor Shortage to Recruit & Retain Staff

The infrastructure law problem only human resources can solve

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides an opportunity to change the landscape of America. Federal spending to build and repair U.S. infrastructure is expected to increase by over $550 billion. Government contractors, especially those specializing in heavy civil construction, could receive substantial amounts of economic stimulus if they effectively prepare and have the right talent at the ready. I regularly hear from architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) businesses about how the labor shortage is making staffing projects incredibly challenging.

According to the 2023 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Sage, respondents are most optimistic about infrastructure categories. The study showed “positive readings of 42% for both highway and bridge construction and transportation projects such as transit, rail and airports.”

As reported by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), the value of state and local contract awards increased 25% in 2022; I can only hope 2023 will continue to see this type of growth. But that brings us to the pressing question on everyone’s mind: Does our firm have the right staff to bid on and perform the work?

The labor shortage is by far the largest challenge for most contractors, according to Ken Simonson, ACG’s chief economist. With that in mind, how can

you adapt your workforce strategy today? Here are five practical steps.

1. Step Up Scenario Planning

The pandemic underscored the need for a deliberate, focused and thoughtful scenario planning process.

Scenario planning requires development of shortand long-term strategies to ramp up (and sometimes ramp down) the size of a team, projects or full staffing model, depending on the expected workflow. Develop contingency plans to adapt to external threats, such as requests for accommodations.

2. Enhance Workforce Utilization

Job candidates currently have substantial labormarket power. They are demanding greater flexibility in

continued on page 72

where, when and how they work. While the level of flexibility depends on the particular job, responding to these new expectations requires thinking differently about staffing, as well as having a well-defined employee value proposition (EVP). Your EVP explains to job candidates why working for you is more attractive than working for your competitors. Promote your EVP as you promote open positions to attract the best talent.

Mentoring programs are an effective method for creating a talent pipeline. When I was involved in AGC’s Construction Careers Center charter high school in St. Louis, Missouri, I saw firsthand how mentors inspire students to choose constructionrelated careers. Your firm can also get involved with similar nonprofit organizations, such as Helmets to Hardhats, to create a talent pipeline from veterans. To expand candidate pools, develop “upskilling” programs that provide training and certification to candidates who may not have the full range of skills needed to qualify for existing positions.

3. Increase DEI Efforts

Disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) contractors and diverse workforces are critical to the construction industry based on the guidelines of the infrastructure law. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts often make the difference between being the apparent low bidder that loses the work and being the creative, inclusive contractor that wins the work. Recruiting efforts should include programs that attract women and people of color.

Offering thoughtful employee benefits can be a competitive advantage in attracting women to the industry. Improved benefits can directly impact job performance, well-being and overall happiness. In 2023, a year where companies will need to compete on a budget, this may be the best dollar-for-dollar investment construction companies can make in their workforce. The National Association of Women in Construction is an example of one organization creating awareness about meaningful careers and offering support for women in construction.

Keep in mind that both the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration programs will give contracting agencies expanded flexibility to use hiring preferences to enhance workforce development opportunities for those in economically or socially disadvantaged communities.

4. Design Compensation for Your People

There is no substitute for programs personalized

Labor Shortage continued from page 71 continued on page 73

Labor Shortage continued from page 72

for your company to optimize your workforce. Compensation is a pressing issue. If one firm is offering $15 per hour and another is offering $12 per hour, that makes a significant difference to job candidates. AEC companies have turned to consulting firms to address their compensation challenges, such as:

• Developing a total rewards strategy and compensation philosophy

• Conducting a labor market assessment of total direct compensation

• Creating salary ranges to assist with pay management, career-pathing and emerging regulatory requirements

• Designing an enhanced long-term incentive plan for executives

• Pay equity analysis

5. Be Strategic About Medical & Mental Health Benefits

To help attract and retain key talent, and keep that talent healthy and productive, instituting thoughtful medical and mental health benefit programs is essential. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more construction workers die by

suicide each year than by all other construction-related fatalities, as reported by ARTBA. Unfortunately, construction industry suicide statistics are jarring:

• 45.3 suicides per 100,000 workers

• Estimated more than 5,500 suicides each year

• Construction worker suicide is 3.5 times the national average

The industry has begun to recognize the need for additional mental health and substance use disorder support. Some AEC firms have added employee assistance programs to their coverage when traditional mental health care has been proven to not provide enough support. Plus, people on a jobsite cannot always easily get to a medical facility nearby, so there is an uptick in AEC companies offering group and individual counseling sessions available via phone. Preventing opioid overdose and suicide among construction workers, as well as supporting workers’ recovery and reintegration into the workforce, is key to helping employees succeed. Since there are quite a few programs in the marketplace, it can be a challenge to evaluate which ones are right for your staff, so consider hiring a consultancy to assist with this process.

Taking the time to shape the right health plan for your specific workforce will go a long way toward supporting your talent and managing expenses.

continued on page 75

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Labor Shortage continued from page 73

Make an informed decision when choosing vendors, such as a pharmacy benefit management provider. Comparing and contrasting telemedicine and digital therapeutics point solutions can be challenging, because the health insurance marketplace is flooded with choices. Employers who ignore these complexities and continue with legacy health plan design and delivery approaches will miss significant opportunity gains.

One last thought: Be sure to have attorneys on your team or staffed within your consulting firm who can advise you on how to effectively comply with local, state and national employment laws. As you set up your current and future workforce for increased success, keep in mind that even though many construction businesses are feeling pressure when it comes to recruiting and retaining staff, there are solutions available as we head into this exciting new era.

Reprinted from www.ConstructionBusinessOwner.com. Written by Stephen H. Lewis. n

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Understanding

Confined Space Risks

Planning and proper precautions can reduce the threat of confined-space entry

Without looking it up, can you name the three parts of the OSHA definition for a confined space? If not, that lack of knowledge can be the first common hazard of a confined space. Many employees who enter a confined space may not realize how valuable it is to know that vital definition before entering a confined space. What about a permit-required confined space? Can you say what makes a confined space a permit-required confined space? If not, read on.

The OSHA definition of a confined space is a space that has limited or restricted means of entry, is not designed for continuous occupancy, and is large enough and configured so that a person can enter the space and maneuver well enough to perform tasks. The OSHA definition of a permitrequired confined space is one that has the potential to expose personnel to hazards that require controls to prevent injury or death. With that understanding of the definitions of a confined space and a permit-required confined space, let’s talk about some of the common hazards that employees face when entering confined spaces.

One of the more deadly hazards is a lack of oxygen in a confined space. Any level below 19.5% is considered dangerous and as the levels continue to drop the danger increases and death can occur in minutes if the oxygen levels are low enough. Common causes of low oxygen levels include hot work like welding or grinding, the oxidation process and bacteria. Exposure to levels at 12% or lower will bring about unconsciousness without warning and so quickly that the employee will not be able to protect themselves or escape.

While low oxygen levels are bad enough, high oxygen levels can create a different problem altogether. Oxygen levels above 23.5% can create an explosive atmosphere that can ignite with just a spark from a metal tool on metal.

You can have issues with toxic atmospheres as well. These atmospheres are dangerous because of either the product stored in the confined space or the work being performed while in the confined space. Methane, hydrogen sulfide, and

continued on page 78

Understanding Confined Space

continued from page 77

carbon monoxide are just a few of the more wellknown gases that can create very hazardous atmospheres.

Atmospheric hazards can be dangerous and, in some cases, deadly, but they are not the only hazards of confined spaces. You still have to pay attention to the common physical hazards such as energized sources like electricity (failing to lockout/ tagout), falling into a confined space or objects that fall into a confined space that could strike the employee, engulfment and drowning, and slick and wet surfaces that create slip hazards. Noisy environments, temperature extremes and weather can create hazards as well.

These common confined-space hazards can lead to serious injuries or even death. The good news is that adhering to a proper written confinedspace program can eliminate most of the hazards and provide protection methods for employees who must enter confined spaces.

Written by Ronnie Freeman. Reprinted from Municipal Water & Sewer magazine. n

LocaL Water Q uaLity Projects secure NeW FuNdiNg

HYANNIS – The Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund Management Board has awarded over $40 million dollars in subsidies for water quality projects.

The towns awarded funds include Barnstable, Chatham, Harwich, Mashpee, Wellfleet, and Yarmouth.

Projects planned in those towns will improve pump stations and sewer expansions, construction of wastewater treatment facilities, and an alternative septic system program.

“Improving our region’s wastewater infrastructure supports clean water and a healthy economy,” said Cape Cod Commission Executive Director Kristy Senatori.

“These grant awards allow our towns to move forward with implementation of critical, community-supported projects,” Senatori said.

The Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund has awarded approximately

$140 million to Cape Cod communities to fund new water quality and wastewater projects and certain pre-existing wastewater debt.

Acknowledging the important role ongoing monitoring plays in understanding the impact of investments in water quality, the board also voted to commit over $300,000 for water quality monitoring in the region.

Reprinted from capecod.com. Written by Zachary Clapp. n

View of the water from the Sea Camps property. Credit: Town of Brewster

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