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1. Why is the City of Malden doing hydrant flushing?

Each week, the City of Malden and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), which provides Malden with its drinking water, conducts water tests on 18 sites across the City. These tests largely act as an early warning system for problems that may be developing with water quality. The most recent tests for this area show chlorine disinfectant levels below the optimal levels and higher than normal water temperatures, which can lead to poor water quality. This flushing program is one of several steps taken to address these most recent test results.

2. How common is the water issue?

During the peak summer months, this is not an uncommon issue. Approximately 3% of samples tested show reduced levels of chlorine and/or increased water temperatures.

3. What causes poor water quality to happen?

During the summer months, areas with lower water flow and older pipes can cause stagnant water and reduced chlorine levels. When combined with higher seasonal water temperatures, this can lead to poor water quality. The weekly testing by the City of Malden and the MWRA is intended to be a warning signal so that we can address any problematic symptoms before they become unsafe.

4. What does flushing the system accomplish?

With the most recent bout of extreme temperatures ending this week, the flushing is intended to move fresh, colder water through the system at a rapid pace and 'flush out' any stagnant and higher temperature water from the system.

5. Do I need to do anything before using or drinking the water?

We always recommend running the water for a brief period before utilizing it for drinking water to flush out stale water and any impurities that may exist within the pipes of your own home. However, no additional precautions need to be taken to safely use the water from the tap. Precautions should be taken before doing laundry to make sure the water is not colored.

6. What is the City doing to address this long term?

The Engineering office and Public Works Department are working closely together to identify opportunities to increase water flow rates through the system. We believe this along with the passing of the extreme temperatures we've experienced will both play critical roles in resolving this situation. We also continue to aggressively replace aging pipes across the City.

7. I have additional questions about the hydrant flushing. Who should I call?

Please contact the City of Malden's Department of Public Works at 781-397-7160 if you need additional information on this matter.

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1. How do I purchase additional trash or recycling carts?

Residents have the option of purchasing additional recycling and/or trash carts.  Each additional cart purchased can be used in the exact same way as your primary city-issued carts.  They can be purchased in two ways:

• Purchase online using credit card or EFT.  Orders can take up to two weeks to fully process and carts will then be delivered to your home.
• Purchase in person by cash or check at the Malden DPW located at 356 Commercial St.  When purchasing in person, you must be able to take home whatever you purchase as we do not offer delivery for in-person purchases.

2. What can I put into my blue city-issued recycling cart?

Malden curbside recycling is single stream which means that both streams of materials (mixed paper/cardboard and bottles/cans/jugs/tubs) can now be mixed in one cart.

3. Where can I find a list of materials that are allowed in this new cart?

You can find a searchable database of how to get rid of just about any material on our Waste Wizard online database located at cityofmalden.org/waste

4. What if I have more recycling than will fit inside the new cart.

Our new 35 gallon recycle carts store the equivalent of the traditional two blue open-top bins. If you recycle more than that, you have two options:

Option 1: Purchase extra blue recycling cart(s) from the City of Malden. The price of the cart will be listed with our online system. They will always be priced at the City’s cost which means they are not marked up in price like you would pay at a store such as Lowes or Home Depot.

Option 2: Continue to use your existing barrels/carts/containers as long as they are able to contain mixed recycling with the contents below the top and properly contained under a lid. To make it easier for JRM to identify the barrel/cart/container you can get a free “Mixed Recycling” blue sticker from the DPW.

5. What if I already own overflow carts that I use for recycling?

Please continue to use overflow carts for excess recycling. As long as they are labeled and lidded, please continue to use them and now you can mix your recycling inside your overflow containers as well.

6. Why aren’t blue PAYT bags going away?

When we first proposed a plan for overhauling our PAYT system, we originally planned to get rid of blue PAYT bags all together. After extensive public meetings and community outreach, we received overwhelming feedback that many residents still wanted the option of being able to use blue PAYT bags to save money. Many residents use less than $75 worth of blue bags in a year and felt they did not want to be burdened with the additional fees, especially as a small producer of trash.

The result was the inclusion of the option to continue to use blue bags but with the improvement of having a secure cart to put them in to prevent litter and problems with wildlife.

7. How much trash can I put inside of a trash cart?

You are permitted to put up to 35 pounds of bagged household trash in a single black trash cart where the lid is able to be fully closed.

8. What can I put in a black trash cart each week?

Those who purchase a trash tag are permitted to put household trash properly bagged in standard plastic trash bags such as tall kitchen bags or other trash bags purchased at retail stores. Those who do not purchase an annual trash tag must put trash inside of a blue PAYT bag first before putting it in the black trash cart.

9. What if I can’t fit all of my trash inside my black trash cart?

Our trash carts are 35 gallons which is the equivalent of one blue PAYT trash bag. If you have more than this in a given week, you have two options for overflow trash.

Option 1: You may either buy a blue PAYT bag and place it in a covered trash barrel or cart labeled as “Trash” with a red sticker offered free at the DPW.

Option 2: You can purchase additional black PAYT carts from the City of Malden. The price of the cart will be listed with our online system. They will always be priced at the City’s cost which means they are not marked up in price like you would pay at a store such as Lowes or Home Depot.

Once additional carts are purchased, they have the same options as your primary cart; blue PAYT bags or the annual hang tag.

10. Can I pay an annual fee rather than having to purchase blue PAYT bags?

Yes. residents have the option of purchasing an annual trash tag for $75 per year. You can purchase them online or by visiting the City of Malden Treasurer’s Office at Malden City Hall.

11. What happens if my cart breaks?

You must contact Malden City Hall to report a damaged cart. After the process is completed and provided that replacement carts are available, the Malden DPW will arrange for drop off of the new cart as well as pickup of the damage cart. Residents must turn in the damaged cart to receive a new one.

12. What happens if my cart is stolen?

If your cart is stolen, you must contact the Malden Police Department to file a police report for stolen items. Once you have a copy of your police report, you may contact Malden City Hall to begin the process of ordering a new cart.

13. If I purchase a trash tag in the middle of a year, will I still be charged full price?

No. Trash tags will be appropriately pro-rated depending on when they are purchased. Tags will renew each calendar year.

14. How do I know the difference between my cart and my neighbor’s cart?

City of Malden Trash and Recycling carts are have serial numbers and embedded RFID tags. When a primary set of carts is issued to a household or if residents purchase additional carts, they are associated with that specific household in our database. There is also a white space on the lid which will include the address or unit number written in.