ADAMS, Mass. — A recent routine test of the town's well water revealed elevated sodium levels, prompting officials to urge at-risk residents to take precautions while further testing is conducted to determine the cause.

 

The point-of-entry sample measured 40.7 milligrams per liter of sodium in the combined flow from all three wells; double the state Department of Environmental Protection's guideline for high risk individuals. 

 

Point-of–entry samples of sodium are required to be taken every three years, Water Department Superintendent John Barrett said.

 

"Sodium is naturally occurring, but not at that kind of level," he said. 

 

While sodium is an essential mineral for normal body function, elevated levels may pose risks for individuals with certain medical conditions, including kidney and heart disease.

 

It is not regulated under the state's maximum contaminant level standards, but the DEP requires that all suppliers inform the state and local Board of Health when levels are elevated above 20 milligrams per liter to ensure anyone on a sodium-restricted diet are informed. 

 

During the Prudential Committee meeting on Monday, Board of Health Chair Kathy Hynes emphasized the need to inform residents even though there are no strict guidelines by the state Environmental Protection Agency. 

 

"My concern is we have a very high population here of cardiac and kidney patients and 750 milligrams of sodium a day is pretty much your average [for healthy adults] but you have target populations [with medical restrictions that] can't go over 500 milligrams per day," she said. 

 

Barrett said he believes the elevated levels likely originate from Well 2A, which sits at the base of the hill near the road, making it more susceptible to road runoff or salt infiltration. 

 

"We don't use that well, literally, we only use it to take samples," Barrett said, later adding that the water in that well is primarily stagnant all the time aside from flushing 9,000 to 10,000 gallons out of it when taking samples. 

 

Now that the issue is on his radar, Barrett said he plans to add it to the regular sampling plan. 

 

The Water Department is sampling every individual well to determine if the elevated sodium is isolated to one well. Barrett said he anticipates getting the results of these samples by the end of the week. 

 

Contributing to the high levels could be from this year's heavy snow and rain and the time of year samples are taken, he said. 

 

When the town tested last year the results also came out high, about 16.1 7 milligrams per liter, he said. 

 

However, the town's aquifer sits low and there is a state highway and Cheshire. So, if there is an issue Barrett said he may have to contact the state and Cheshire to see if they can create no or low salt zones. 

 

"I can't wrap my head around where else it would be coming from, because we don't use [Well Two-A,]" Barrett said.