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Assessing Department - Exemptions Information

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1. I am 65 years old; do I qualify for a property tax exemption?

If you are 65 years old or older, you may qualify for a Cl. 41C property tax exemption if you meet the income, asset, and ownership requirements. Every year the Massachusetts Department of Revenue provides the Assessors with the maximum amount of income and the maximum amount of assets an applicant can have to qualify for a property tax exemption. Please contact the assessor's office for more information regarding the qualifications.

2. What if my income or assets are over the allowable amounts for the above?

If you are 70 years old or older, you may qualify for a Cl. 17D property tax exemption if you meet the asset and ownership requirement. Income is not taken into consideration for this exemption. Please contact the assessor's office for more information regarding the qualifications.

Please note: If your assets exceed the maximum allowed, you would not qualify for either of the above exemptions.

3. I am a Veteran; do I qualify for a property tax exemption?

If you have a service-connected disability of 10% or more, you are entitled to a property tax exemption. Please contact the assessor's office for more information regarding the qualifications.

4. I am a Widow; do I qualify for a property tax exemption?

If you were widowed prior to July 1st of the current year, you may qualify for a property tax exemption if you meet the asset requirement provided by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue each year. Please contact the assessor's office for more information regarding the qualifications.

5. I am legally blind; do I qualify for a property tax exemption?

If the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Commission for the Blind has declared you legally blind prior to July 1st of the current year; you are entitled to a property tax exemption. Please contact the assessor's office for more information regarding the qualifications.

6. When do I apply for a property tax exemption?

You may apply for an exemption anytime after July 1st. The deadline to file is the following March by the 31st of the month. That gives an applicant 9 months to apply for an exemption each year. An applicant must file a new application every year in order to qualify for an exemption.

7. When will I receive my property tax exemption?

Property tax exemptions are applied directly to your property tax bills on the 3rd and 4th quarter bills, which are the bills mailed on December 31st and April 1st.

8. I am receiving a property tax exemption, but have sold my home. What should I do?

You should notify us as soon as the sale has been finalized. Instead of applying your exemption to the property tax bill, we will process the exemption in a check and mail it to you at your new address.

9. I was receiving a property tax exemption for $750, now I am receiving an exemption for $318. Why has there been a change in the amount I receive?

Every year the Massachusetts Department of Revenue determines the income and asset requirements for each exemption. If there has been a change in your income or assets or both, you may no longer qualify for the $750 exemption, but could still qualify for the $318 exemption. If you no longer qualify for the $750 exemption we will automatically move you to the $318 exemption so that you will still receive some kind of reduction from your property tax bills in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

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Firearms FAQ

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1. Who do I contact at Methuen Police about information regarding a license to carry or FID card?

Contact Officer Jeffrey Brouck at 978-983-8751. Licenses and FID cards are issued by appointment only. 

2. How old must I be to obtain a LTC?

You must be 21 years of age. 

3. Do I need an FID card to carry mace?

No, provided the applicant is over the age of 17. The Law regarding the requirement for FID-M for chemical propellant/mace changed in August 2014. Massachusetts no longer requires a license for this purpose for adults over 17. If the applicant is between the ages of 14 and 17, the applicant will need a FID-M to lawfully carry/possess chemical propellant/mace. A certificate from your parent or guardian granting permission will also be required.

4. What's the age limit to obtain an FID card?

Fifteen years old. Ages 15, 16 or 17 you must submit with your application a certificate from your parent or guardian granting permission for the card. 

5. How long is a LTC or FID Card good for?

Six years. 

6. Do I have to notify the police of a change of address?

Yes. You must notify, in writing, the licensing authority who issued the license, the Chief of Police into whose jurisdiction you move to and the Executive Director of the Criminal History Systems Board. Notification must be by certified mail within 30 days. 

7. I just moved into Massachusetts. Do I need a license right away?

Not right away. You can possess any firearm, rifle or shotgun for up to 60 days without a LTC or FID card. You cannot lawfully carry these items, you can only possessthem in your residence. You will need to complete a Massachusetts State Police Basic Firearm Safety Course in order to apply for your license as Massachusetts does not recognize safety courses from other states. 

8. What can I carry with a LTC?

A LTC allows you to purchase, possess, use and carry large and non- large capacity firearms, rifles, shotguns, feeding devices and ammunitio 

9. If I'm out in public carrying a concealed firearm, I legally possess a LTC, and a police officer requeststo see my LTC, do I have to produce it?

Yes. This is true for both LTC and FID cards. You must produce a valid license on demand. If you do not, the police can take your firearm until you produce such license. However, any inappropriate act while carrying a firearm may result in the immediate revocation of the license. 

10. I have a valid Class A LTC, are there any restrictions on carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle?

Carrying a loaded firearm under a Class A license must be under your direct control. It cannot be under the seat, in the trunk, etc. This carries a $500 fine if violated. 

11. Where can I obtain the proper application form for new or renewal FID Card or License To Carry?

The forms can be obtained at the police station. Or you can download the proper forms off the internet. Print the form, fill out ALL necessary information and bring it to the police station. 

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Home - FAQs

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1. How do I pay my city water bill?

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2. How do I get a new trash can lid?

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3. How do I apply for a job with the City?

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4. My trash didn't get picked up, what should I do now?

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5. How do I get a garage sale permit?

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6. How can I see the agenda for an upcoming City Council or Board meeting?

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Human Resources

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1. Is union membership required to work for the City of Methuen?

Union membership is only required when the position of employment held by the employee is listed in the recognition clause of a specific collective bargaining agreement.

2. Does the City of Methuen offer benefits?

Yes. Benefits are available to all City employees.

3. Does the City of Methuen have any general employment requirements?

Yes. All employees must pass a physical and drug test.

4. Must I submit both an application and a resume?

No. You may submit either an application (available online) or a resume.

5. Do you keep resumes on file?

Yes. Resumes are kept for one year and are reviewed when a position is posted. However, it is recommended that you submit a city application for a particular position when it is posted.

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Public Works

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1. What time does my trash need to be put out?

By 7 am on the regularly scheduled day of your trash pickup.

2. What items are not accepted by E.L. Harvey and Son?

The trash company will not take demolished material, electronics, cardboard or appliances. You may take these items to the Transfer Station on Huntington Avenue. There is a fee for the items.

3. What are the Transfer Station hours?

• Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 7 am - 1:45 pm
• Wednesday  7 am - 5:30 pm
• Saturday: 8 am to 2:30 pm 
• Sunday Closed

Transfer Station Method of Payment: Checks, payable to City of Methuen, credit cards/debit cards, no cash accepted.

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Recycling - Coming Changes to Trash / Recycling Service

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1. What is automated collection and why is it coming to Methuen?

Automated collection is the collection of trash and recycling by means of trash vehicles equipped with a forklift-type mechanism that can pick up trash containers with no assistance from a human collector. The benefit of the automated collection is that trash must be inside the trash container to be collected, which assists with implementing trash limits (see below). Automated collection is safer for workers, more efficient in facilitating the timely completion of collection routes, and more cost-effective.

2. Why are trash limits so important?

Reducing our solid waste disposal and increasing our recycling makes economic and environmental sense for all communities. In Massachusetts, solid waste disposal capacity is severely constrained, compelling communities to better manage waste collection by promoting materials reuse, recycling, and composting of food waste. Methuen ranks worst in the state among similarly-sized communities for the amounts of solid waste we dispose of per household, and near last in recycling. These trends are increasingly expensive for our city and terrible for our environment.

3. Who will be getting the carts?

Every Methuen residential housing unit receiving curbside service (including those in multiple unit structures) will receive a 64-gallon trash cart and a 95-gallon cart for single-stream recyclables.

4. Do I have to put trash and recyclables in my new carts?

Yes… The hauler will only collect trash placed in the designated trash receptacle. Recyclables collection will continue to be every other week but instead of using open bins or stickered receptacles, recyclables should be placed in the new 95-gallon wheeled cart with a blue lid.

5. What if I have a large event at my house and generate more trash than can fit in the cart?

Overflow bags will be available, both to assist with the transition to automated trash pick-up and to address unusually high trash-producing events, such as parties and holidays. Each household will receive 2 bags upon the initial distribution of carts, and thereafter, bags will be available for sale at a cost of $10 for a package of 5 bags. Overflow bags are available at Methuen City Hall 41 Pleasant Street, Nevins Memorial Library 305 Broadway, Methuen Senior Activity Center 77 Lowell Street, Methuen Transfer Station 50 Huntington Avenue, and at the following locations throughout the city:

• Market Basket (186 Haverhill Street)
• Market Basket (70 Pleasant Valley St)
• Howe St Superette(163 Howe Street)
• Galloway's Convenience Store (176 Pelham Street)
• Caribbean Supermarket (4 Broadway)
• White Eagle Pantry (319 Merrimack Street)

Extra trash carts will be available to households at an annual fee of $100.

6. What if I’m senior citizen or someone who cannot maneuver the larger carts. Are smaller carts than the 64-gallon trash cart or the 95-gallon recycle carts available?

Yes. Contact Methuen DPW. After the initial distribution of carts this summer, the City will switch out large carts with 35-gallon carts if requested by residents.

7. What materials can be placed in the recycle cart?

All single-stream recyclables should go in your Recycle Cart - Plastic bottles, jugs and containers (rinsed and clean); Aluminum/steel/tin cans (rinsed and clean); Newspaper; Cardboard (flatten); Mixed office paper, junk mail etc.; Glass (rinsed and clean)

8. Won’t this cart system just generate even more illegal dumping?

Mayor Perry and his administration are making clean streets and a crackdown on dumping enforcement priorities. Every effort will be made to identify persons responsible for dumping and the City will rigorously enforce anti-dumping with fines and penalties. Monitoring cameras are being installed and persons seeing dumping occur are asked to report incidents to Methuen Police and DPW.

9. What if my cart is stolen or damaged?

Contact the City DPW or vendor EL. Harvey which is putting in place a system for monitoring the inventory of carts, maintaining carts, and replacing irreparable or lost/stolen carts.

10. What do I do with my large bulky items like old couches or furniture?

Starting with the initiation of automated collection, these items will no longer be collected in the regular trash. Residents should consider donations to reuse programs for these items. Alternatively, residents can contact the vendor EL. Harvey to schedule a curbside pickup within a week pursuant to their fee schedule, call DPW and arrange to pick up on a more extended timeline at a reduced fee, or those residents with a transfer station sticker can drop these items off at the Methuen Transfer Station on Huntington Avenue.

11. How do I dispose of my old mattress?

Starting this Fall, under MassDEP regulations, mattresses no longer will be allowed to be disposed of at incinerators or landfills. You can schedule a curbside pickup of mattresses for a fee with the City's vendor EL. Harvey will transport mattresses to a recycling processing center. Alternatively, you can bring old mattresses to retail outlets where you purchased bedding supplies.

12. What do I do with old clothing?

Effective this Fall, textiles are subject to the Massachusetts waste ban and cannot be disposed of in landfills or incinerators. Old clothes and shoes can be dropped off at donation boxes located at municipal locations including all schools, North End Fire Station, and the Methuen Transfer Station. Do not put textile materials in the Trash cart or the Single Stream Recycle Cart.

13. How can I find other options for disposition, donation or re-use?

The City of Methuen has created a Trash and Recycling website page with links to helpful sites providing tips for how and where to dispose of materials that are no longer useful to you. Sites such as Recyclopedia are included, and we will be adding links to local organizations that accept materials as donations or will accept them at reduced costs.

14. How many carts will a multi-family structure receive?

Two carts (one 64-gallon trash cart and one 95-gallon single-stream recycling cart) will be distributed to each unit within any residential structure that is eligible for curbside pick-up.

15. How will pick-up be accomplished on narrow streets?

E.L. Harvey has stressed its commitment to serving every customer on every street in Methuen. When necessary, they will commit whatever resources they must to ensuring pick-up from every residence, including, if necessary, providing additional personnel to pick up on those streets that cannot easily accommodate the automated truck.

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Retirement Board FAQ

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1. Am I eligible to become a member of the Methuen Contributory Retirement System?

If you are employed by the City of Methuen, the Methuen School Department, or the Methuen Housing Authority on a permanent basis holding a position which requires you to work a minimum of 30 hours per week, you are eligible to become a member. Elected Officials earning more than $5,000 per year have 90 days from the date of assuming office to become members. 

2. Am I required to become a member of the Methuen Contributory Retirement System?

According to the Massachusetts Retirement Law (Chapter 32 of the Massachusetts General Laws), you must become a member of the system if you meet the eligibility requirements. 

3. What are the different group classifications of membership in the retirement system?

• Group 1 = General employees, including clerical, administrative, technical and all other employees not otherwise classified 
• Group 2 = Certain specified hazardous duty positions 
• Group 4 = Police officers, firefighters, and other specified hazardous positions 

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Senior Center

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1. How old do I need to be to participate at the Center?

Because we are open Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 4 pm and Friday, 8 am - 12:30 pm, the main requirement is to be available during those hours. So, if you’re 54 and retired, you’re welcome to come! Some federally or state sponsored programs stipulate participants be 60 years of age or older, but mostly, the Center is available to the “mature” population. 

2. Do you have fitness classes?

We offer a wide variety of fitness classes at many levels including Aeroflex, Gentle Yoga, Cardio Aerobics, Line Dancing, Tai Chi & Qigong, Balance Bones & Brains (3B), Zumba, and Yoga. Each class offers a unique combination of aerobics, flexibility, balance, strengthening and meditative exercises. A Complete Work Out Center with a variety of exercise equipment is available to round out your workout routine.  Cost per class: $2.00.

3. Do you have someone I can talk to about health insurance options?

Yes! We have a specially trained SHINE volunteer. SHINE stands for “Serving the Heath Insurance Needs of Everyone” and our volunteer receives training and on-going guidance from AgeSpan.  Call 978-983-8825 to request an appointment. 

4. I’d like to learn something new. Do you have any craft classes I can attend?

Yes! We have many enrichment classes for  you to learn to create a variety of masterpieces while keeping your mind sharp and active.   Try painting, ceramics, Japanese Bunka… just to name a few.

5. My doctor recommends having my blood pressure monitored? Do you have a program that can help me?

A blood pressure clinic is available Tuesdays from 9:00-11:00am provided by Family Services of the Merrimack Valley, Inc.  The City of Methuen Public Health Nurse also conducts additional blood pressure clinics and informational sessions.  Call the center for more information.

6. Do you have transportation?

We do not have our own vans here, however, the City of Methuen contracts with the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA) to provide EZ Trans curb-to-curb transportation services for persons 60 and over.  Applications are available at the Center.

7. Are you open on weekends?

As a city department, we are open Monday through Thursday, 8:00-4:00pm and Friday, 8:00-12:30pm.   We are only open on weekends for special events, sometimes fundraisers.

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Water Department FAQs

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1. What if I have a water emergency?

The 24-hour Emergency Number is (978) 983-8855.  Your call will be directed to the Water Distribution office during normal business hours. After hours, your call will be directed to the Water Treatment Plant. Alternatively, you can call the Police Dispatch at 978-983-8698.

2. Who can I contact about my water and sewer bill and/or meter reading?

Please call the Water Office located at City Hall at 978-983-8555 or email methuenwater@ci.methuen.ma.us

Payments can be made in person at:

The Searles Building, Methuen, MA 01844. See map: Google Maps

3. How do I determine the quality of my water?

At Methuen Water, we routinely sample and analyze water quality from the source, through our treatment process, and throughout our distribution system to ensure water service that meets or exceeds all drinking water standards established by State and Federal regulations. Summaries of our test results are posted on our website and distributed to public places annually in a Consumer Confidence Report.

4. How do I get my water tested?

If you are a Methuen Water Department customer, you can get your water tested for basic water quality parameters at the Water Treatment Plant Laboratory located at 25 Burnham Road. Please contact the Chief Chemist / Lab Director at (978) 983-8852. We do test well water for E. coli for a fee of $30, please contact the laboratory for the correct sample bottles and procedures. 

5. Where does Methuen’s Water come from?

The city of Methuen’s water comes from the Merrimack River, please see our annual Water Quality Report for more details.

6. Is Methuen's water considered "hard" or "soft"?

The City of Methuen’s drinking water is considered “soft water” according to the ranges set by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). There is no EPA drinking water standard for hardness, only set ranges to define the degree of hardness:  0 to 75mg/l is considered soft, 75 – 150 mg/l considered moderately soft, 150 – 300 mg/l considered hard, and over 300 mg/l considered very hard. Methuen’s treated water generally ranges from 15 to 30 mg/l hardness. By definition, water hardness is the total concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in the water. Hard water is not considered a contaminant, but it does retard the cleaning action of soap and can form a scale on cooking utensils, hot water pipes and heaters. “Soft water” can have corrosive tendencies, but Methuen’s water is adjusted before leaving the treatment plant making it non-corrosive but also non-scale forming.

7. I bought a new dishwasher and the manufacturer wants to know what the hardness of the water is?

With a system-wide average for hardness ranging between 1 and 2 grains per gallon (a unit of measure commonly used by dishwasher manufacturers) or 15-30 milligrams per liter (mg/l), Methuen’s water is considered to be soft. 

8. What is the pH of my water?

On average, the pH of Methuen’s water ranges from 7.2 to 7.8 units. 

9. Why is my water cloudy or milky?

Occasionally your water may look cloudy or milky. Cloudy or milky-looking water is usually the result of lots of tiny air bubbles suspended in the water. The bubbles are so small that they are almost invisible, but together they look like someone poured milk in your water. Our water has dissolved air in it all of the time, but it has more during the colder months. When the colder water warms in your hot water heater or in the pipes of your home it can no longer hold all of the dissolved air, so air bubbles appear. There is nothing that Methuen Water can do to remove these air bubbles from the water, but be assured that these bubbles will clear on their own as the water warms up. If you allow a glass of water to stand for a few moments, the air bubbles will rise to the surface. This phenomenon is called entrained air and does not affect the quality of your water and is not harmful to consume. 

10. Why is my tap water brown or yellow temporarily?

The internal plumbing of your house may be the culprit if discolored water only appears for a minute or two after your tap is turned on. When the zinc coating on the inside of galvanized iron pipe begins to wear thin, water becomes discolored as it comes in contact with bare iron. The longer the water sits in the pipes, the worse the discoloration will be. That's why you are most likely to notice the problem first thing in the morning or when you have just returned from being out of your home for some period of time. After running your tap for a few minutes, clean water from your water heater or water main will replace the discolored water. Since iron is an essential nutrient, this condition poses no health hazard. If the discoloration bothers you, however, flush the tap until the water becomes clear.

11. Why is my tap water brown or yellow constantly?

Sediments in water mains sometimes get stirred up when fire hydrants are used and when the flow of water in mains is changed. These sediments may cause your water to turn brown or yellow. Wait 30 to 40 minutes after you notice the discolored water, and try turning on the cold water in your bathtub for a minute or two. You'll probably notice that it clears right up, since sediments settle quickly back to the bottom of water mains. Discolored water due to sediments poses no known health threat, but for aesthetic reasons you should avoid doing laundry until the water color clears up.

12. Why am I seeing brown or yellow water from the hot tap only?

If the discoloration is detected only in your hot water supply, it is likely an indication of an issue with your hot water heater. It is recommended that you turn off your hot water heater and allow it to cool. Once cool, safely drain and flush your unit. Then fill and turn your unit on to determine if the problem persists. You should consult your owner's manual for instructions and warnings regarding this task or contact a licensed plumber.

13. What makes ice cubes cloudy?

Air that is trapped in the ice gives it a cloudy appearance. Commercially made ice is stirred as it is frozen. Household ice is not. Without mixing, many more ice crystals form and air is trapped in the ice. Light rays are distorted by these crystals and air, and this distortion gives home frozen ice a cloudy appearance.

14. How do you get rid of the black film around the toilet and other locations?

This film can be a result of many factors, some internal to the home, such as a water softener or plumbing. It may also be related to the condition of the water coming into the home. Hard water can leave deposits, which are the mineral salts left behind as the water evaporates, on toilets and dishwashers. Rings on baths and showers can also be scum left behind as the water evaporates or from soap or shampoos reacting with hard water. (NOTE: Methuen municipal water is NOT hard water, therefore this is an unlikely reason). Black slime is usually mold/mildew that thrives in moist areas like bathroom toilets and tiles where it is wet and warm. The film that develops on sink stoppers is again non-harmful bacteria and residue build up. Usually, the customer will need to clean the area with a commercial cleaner that contains a disinfecting agent, such as chlorine bleach.

15. What is the “pink" stain?

People sometimes see a pink ring develop on the flat surfaces of their shower, in their pet's water bowls, or toilets. This is a colored organism (Serratia marcescens) that is present in the air that grows in these areas. It is a harmless bacterium and exists in moist/humid conditions. The customer can remove the pink ring by cleaning the area periodically with a commercial cleaning product that contains bleach.

16. How can I improve the taste of my water?

The taste of water can be improved simply by refrigerating your drinking water in a pitcher or container. To remove any chlorine taste or odors simply shake the covered container and allow it to sit in the refrigerator overnight. The chlorine will dissipate.

17. Why does my water smell like chemicals?

Have you noticed a chemical smell coming from your water? The aesthetic properties of your tap water depend upon your local natural water supply source, how your water is treated, and how it is delivered to you. If the smell or taste resembles bleach it can be pretty alarming, but rest assured this not caused by harmful contaminants. 

In the case of private well water that undergoes no treatment at all, taste and odor are simply a function of the presence of naturally occurring minerals and organic matter in the tapped groundwater. Municipal treatment, however, adds another level of “complexity” for the palate. 

However, wells are not common in Methuen and while they do exist they are privately owned. For public water systems, a refreshing glass of drinking water requires certain chemicals be present in combination.   And a drink of water that originated from a municipal treatment plant such as Methuen’s made contact with chlorine when it was added to destroy waterborne germs, such as e. coli 0157 H7 and norovirus, which are capable of spreading disease. Chlorine disinfectants play an essential role in maintaining the public health, but they can introduce an unpleasant odor or taste to drinking water and this is the most common question from public drinking water consumers.

18. Why does my water smell like chlorine?

The chlorine odor of tap water can be traced to the chlorine “residual,” a low level of chlorine maintained in water to guard against bacteria, viruses and parasites, which water may come in contact with as it flows from the treatment plant to points of use. In the US, even treatment plants that use non-chlorine disinfection technologies are required to add chlorine to the water before it flows into the distribution system. The chlorine residual acts like a “body guard” for water in transit. As long as there is a residual level of chlorine, the consumer is reasonably protected from harmful microorganisms.

According to the American Water Works Association (AWWA), if the chlorine residual level is sufficient without being excessive, water will not smell like chlorine. Yet, sensitivity to the odor of chlorine varies among consumers. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires treatment facilities to maintain a chlorine residual level that is chemically detectable but no greater than 4 mg/l. Four milligrams per liter is the “Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level” for chlorine, and it is the level below which there are no known or expected risks to health from exposure to the disinfectant.

Most people can sense a chlorine residual around 1 mg/l. If your water smells strongly of chlorine, it is possible that your treatment facility conveys water over a long distance, requiring heavy chlorination to maintain chlorine residual throughout the system. (The chlorine residual also may be raised by treatment facilities during warm weather when chlorine dissipates readily from water.) 

Quick Facts:

• Residual chlorine in your water is not harmful. It is actually required by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and MassDEP in order to disinfect water before it is distributed to homes and offices.
• Boiling your tap water or chilling it in the refrigerator will remove the bleach smell from the water.
• The EPA and MassDEP requires chlorine in public water systems but recommends levels below 4mg/L. Chlorine can be smelled at levels of 1mg/L. The City of Methuen has a distribution residual ranging from 0.10 - 1.2mg/L depending on the distance from the treatment plant.  

What Can You Do?

Fill a pitcher of water and set it aside for several hours while chlorine dissipates. Transferring the water rapidly between two pitchers can accelerate chlorine dissipation.

Do you have a question about your drinking water quality? If your home is served by our public water system, you should receive a link to Methuen’s consumer confidence report (CCR) each year by July 1 in your water bill. A CCR provides a general overview of the water quality delivered. 

19. Why does my water smell like rotten eggs or sewage?

Sometimes customers report that their tap water smells septic, swampy, moldy or like sewage or sewer gas, or sometimes sulfur or rotten eggs. These odors are often caused by gases forming in the household drain. These gases are formed by bacteria which live on food, soap, hair and other organic matter in the drain. These gases are heavier than air and remain in the drain until the water is turned on. As the water runs down the drain, the gases are expelled into the atmosphere around the sink. It is natural to associate these odors with the water because they are observed only when the water is turned on. In this case, the odor is not in the water, it is simply the water pushing the gas out of the drain. This can be verified by taking a glass of water from the tap and walking away to another area to smell the glass of water.

If you determine it is the drain, you can eliminate this type odor by disinfecting the drain to kill the bacteria. Effective disinfection can be achieved by following these six steps.

Caution: do not mix any drain cleaners or detergents with bleach; certain combinations can create toxic fumes

1. Run the cold water for about 15 seconds into the drain that is to be disinfected, then turn the water off.
2. Pour approximately quarter cup of liquid chlorine bleach (laundry bleach) down the drain (or drains) where the odor is present. Pour the bleach slowly around the edges of the drain so that it runs down the sides of the drain. Caution: bleach may cause eye damage, skin irritation, and may damage clothing - BE CAREFUL!
3. If the odor is coming from a sink with a garbage disposal, turn the disposal on for a few seconds while the bleach is being poured. This will disperse the bleach around the inside of the disposal. Caution: bleach may cause eye damage, skin irritation, and may damage clothing - take care to avoid splashing for the few seconds the disposal is turned on.
4. Allow the bleach to remain undisturbed in the drain for about 10 minutes. Caution: prolonged contact with metals may cause pitting and/or discoloration.
5. After 10 minutes, run the hot water into the drain for a minute or two to flush out the bleach. If a garbage disposal was disinfected, thoroughly flush it as well.
6. This procedure may need to be repeated if the odor returns.

If the odor is detected only in your hot water supply, it may be an indication that there is an issue with your hot water heater. A sulfurous or rotten egg-like odor in the hot water is caused by bacteria growing in the water heater. This usually happens when the water heater is turned off while on vacation, when the hot water has not been used for a long time, or when the temperature setting on the heater is set too low. You should consult your owner's manual or contact a licensed plumber to address this issue.

20. What are those white flakey particles in my water?

Customers often call to report white particles clogging their shower heads, faucet aerators or floating in the bath tub or water glasses. These particles are often described as resembling eggshell fragments, scale or oatmeal. In many instances our laboratory has determined that these particles are plastic and that the source was limited to the hot water. It was further determined that the source of these particles is the failure of the plastic dip tube located inside the hot water heater in the home.

Most residential water heaters contain a "dip tube" that is commonly made of plastic. The dip tube is basically an extension of the cold water inlet that extends nearly to the bottom of the tank and directs cold water to the bottom to be heated. From August 1993 through October 1996, a series of defective dip tubes was manufactured and sold to major manufacturers of water heaters. The defect causes the dip tubes to degrade and disintegrate within an average time of 3 to 5 years. The result is that particles of this disintegrated plastic are released into the home plumbing to clog fixtures and reduce water pressure. The particles are non toxic and do not make the water toxic.

To determine if the dip tube is the source of the problem, place some of the white particles in a clear glass of water and see if they float. Because the dip tubes are plastic, they should float.

Once a defective dip tube is confirmed, check the age and warranty period on your water heater. If the unit is less than 5 years old, it's likely still under warranty and the manufacturer should be willing to repair or replace it. Contact your plumber, building contractor, or the manufacturer to report the problem. You will need to have the manufacturer, model number and serial number ready when you call; other useful information might include the date of purchase or installation, and your warranty documents.

21. Who do I call if I see someone using a hydrant?

Use of fire hydrants, besides either by the Water or Fire Departments, is illegal. Please notify the Water Distribution Department at (978) 983-8855.