Plaistow water operator reports compliant system, tracks disinfection byproducts and backflow compliance

Charlie Lanza, general manager of Hampstead Water Services, told the Plaistow Board of Selectmen on July 28 that the town's water system is meeting state and federal requirements but staff are tracking seasonal issues and operational upgrades. Lanza said the utility is watching disinfection byproducts, especially haloacetic acids (HAA5). "We're right around 41, just shy of 41. The limit is the blue line, which is 60," he said. He described 74–75 degrees Fahrenheit in the storage tank as a tipping point when meeting disinfection targets becomes harder. Why it matters: rising summer temperatures and slower turnover in storage tanks can increase disinfectant byproducts, which utilities must manage to stay under regulatory limits. Lanza said the system's current average is below the regulatory line and the operator…