The Board of Water Commissioners have set the FY2020 water rates.   The new rate schedule is available online.  The rates are based on the budget approved at Town Meeting in May 2019 and the water use forecast for FY2020.

The Topsfield Water Department has instituted a Voluntary Outdoor Water Restriction effective June 10, 2019. The restriction is needed due to warmer weather and associated increase in water demand.  We expect a mandatory restriction will be needed by the middle of July.

Public water customers, including all residents and businesses connected to the Town's water system, are asked to curtail nonessential outdoor water use between the hours of 9 AM to 5 PM. Essential outdoor water use includes those uses that have a health or safety impact, are required by regulation or are needed to meet the core functions of a business or organization.  The restriction does not apply to private wells at this time.

In addition to limiting outdoor use the Water Department encourages the following conservation measures:

• Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when full.
• Fix any leaks around the house.
• Install water efficient toilets, faucets and showerheads.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator, rather than running the faucet.
• Consider replacing water intensive lawns with low water demand plants and grasses. The Water Department has several guide books that are available to residents.

Please call the Water Department at (978) 887-1517 if you have any questions.

The Water Department is accepting applications for a Seasonal Laborer position.  Click here for more information and here for an application.

The 2018 Water Quality Report is available online.  Copies will be mailed to customers and will also be available at the Water Department Office once they are printed.  Please visit our water quality website http://watertesting.topsfieldpublicworks.org for more water testing results.

The Board of Water Commissioners has scheduled a rate hearing for June 28, 2019 at 8:00 AM at the Public Works Building located at 279 Boston Street.  The purpose of the hearing is to set water rates for FY2020.  Click here to view Board documents including those that will be used at the hearing.

Our water system uses groundwater wells to supply water for our customers.  The water undergoes a variety of treatment processes to improve its quality in order to meet drinking water regulations. 

The first process is natural filtration through the sand and gravel deposits near the wells.  As water travels from the land surface towards the wells, the naturally occuring sand and gravel deposits filter out many contaminants including coliform bacteria, vegetative debris, and others that are commonly found on the surface of the ground or in nearby surface water bodies.

Once the water is in our supply system it travels to the water treatment plant for additional treatment including disinfection, pH adjustment, greensand filtration, aeration, fluoridation and sequestration/corrosion control.  The raw water is treated in the following order:

We conduct hundreds of water quality tests each year. Results are now available on our Water Quality Site which includes information about which water sources are in use. The site has been under development for several years and more functionality will be added as time permits.