All Manchester Water Systems Within State, Federal Standards

All three of Manchester's water service areas met state and federal standards, according to reports recently released detailing the township's water system quality in 2010.

Standards are set to "establish limits to the amounts of certain contaminants sometimes found in drinking water and require public water systems to test the water to determine the concentrations of the contaminants," said Donald Somerset, chief engineer for the utilities division of Manchester Public Works.

The township's three systems — the Eastern Service Area, Western Service Area and the Lacey Road Water System — were within government standards for contaminants including lead, copper and nitrates, among others, last year. The reports are attached to this article in the media section.

"We obtain all of the water we deliver to our customers from municipal wells sunk into two underground sources of water called the Cohansey and Upper Raritan Aquifers," Somerset said in an email. "The township controls the property around the wells and restricts any activities that could contaminate them. In addition, we treat and test the water in accordance with Federal and State drinking water standards."

Water is tested each day, Somerset said, and hundreds of samples are sent out each year to certified testing laboratories.

Somerset said that the reports do not indicate any areas of immediate concern. 

"We do not anticipate any significant changes in the levels of the contaminants identified in our drinking water reports," he said. "Nevertheless, we will continue to test the water to ensure it conforms to the federal and state drinking water standards."

Should the level of contaminates ever exceed those limits, Somerset said that customers will be notified as water is treated "to reduce the concentration of the contaminant to an acceptable level."

The Eastern Service Area includes parts of Manchester along Route 37 and areas east of the state highway, Lakehurst and the local portion of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

The Western Service Area covers the Whiting section of Manchester southeast of Manchester Boulevard and northwest of Lake Road and along Station Road. 

The Lacey Road Water System serves the township southeast of Route 70 and northwest of the railroad between  Hilltop Road and Route 539. 

Any customers who have concerns about water quality can contact Stephen Stanziano, director of Public Works, at 732-657-8121.