The Water Department has released its 2014 report on the town’s public water supply and Superintendent Nick Nicholson says it reflects a relatively quiet year.

The report will be mailed to every residence in town, is posted on the town’s website and will be posted at the Mattapoisett Library.

Regarding nitrogen pollution, Nicholson said the town hasn’t seen the same increase in the water supply as other areas have.

“We’re very fortunate. Nitrogen hasn’t gone up for us at all,” he said.

Nicholson attributed that, in part, to the fact that the town’s wells are in rural areas on protected lands and so aren’t subject to fertilizer and manure runoff or septic systems.

There was one blip on the water quality report from last September when coliform was detected in one test. The bacteria itself does not pose a major threat but can be an indicator of harmful bacteria such as E. coli.

Subsequent tests showed no coliform or other dangerous bacteria, said Nicholson. He added that coliform is a naturally occurring bacteria.

The report also reflects some new information required by the Environmental Protection Agency such as test results on the levels of chromium and vanadium in the water. Measured in parts per billion, a handful of these substances did appear in the water system but in very small quantities.

“There are no maximum contaminate level on those. We just have to put them in there,” said Nicholson.

The department was required to test 56 other volatile organic chemicals and 13 inorganic chemicals, none of which were found in the drinking supply.

Regarding the water supply for this year, Nicholson said he doesn’t anticipate any water conservation restrictions though he is surprised at how dry it has been.

“Things are dry, dry, dry,” he said. “I never thought we’d be in a situation as dry as we are now.”

Nicholson said his crew has been digging down to repair water leaks in pipes and found no moisture at six feet deep. The copious amounts of snow from the winter have hopefully kept the aquifers in good supply, however. Recent rains also helped keep a statewide restriction at bay.

Last summer, a downed well put a strain on the system and resulted in an every other day restriction for outdoor usage, particularly watering lawns and gardens.

Download the full report below.