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Community Water System · PWS CT0150011

Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County

Shelton, Connecticut 06484 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 351,756 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

351,756
People served
585
EPA violations
5
Health-based
7 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 585 drinking-water violations at Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County, 1% of them health-based - above the Connecticut per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds.

585
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
351,756
People served by this system
7
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County

Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 351,756 residents in Shelton, Connecticut (Fairfield County) through 108,501 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 585 total violations for this system , of which 5 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 576 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2021.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Diquat, recorded in 16 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 7 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 10.9 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Connecticut, EPA tracks 2,332 public water systems serving 2,886,005 people, with 206,662 cumulative violations and 21,779 health-based violations on record. About 94% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 88.6 violations. Statewide, 40 of 63 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (63.5%).

Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County's 585 violations sit above the Connecticut average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

7 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
351,756
Total Violations
585
Health-Based Violations
5
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Private
Connections
108,501
County
Fairfield
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
576
Treatment Tech Violations
5

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Diquat MR 16 2016
Glyphosate MR 16 2016
OXAMYL MR 16 2016
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 16 2016
BHC-GAMMA MR 16 2016
Methoxychlor MR 16 2016
Aldicarb sulfoxide MR 16 2016
Aldicarb sulfone MR 16 2016
Aldicarb MR 16 2016
Atrazine MR 16 2016
Heptachlor MR 16 2016
Heptachlor epoxide MR 16 2016
2,4,5-TP MR 16 2016
Pentachlorophenol MR 16 2016
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 16 2016
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 16 2016
Dalapon MR 16 2016
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 16 2016
Simazine MR 16 2016
Picloram MR 16 2016
Dinoseb MR 16 2016
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 16 2016
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 16 2016
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 16 2016
LASSO MR 16 2016
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 16 2016
Chlordane MR 16 2016
Toxaphene MR 16 2016
Endrin MR 16 2016
Carbofuran MR 16 2016

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 14 of 406 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
HFPO-DA 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/24/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/24/2023 6.70 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMPA 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/24/2023 5.70 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFHpS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/24/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/24/2023 5.90 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 7/24/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/24/2023 3.90 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFBS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/24/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/24/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/24/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/24/2023 7.40 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/24/2023 10.90 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOA 7/24/2023 8.10 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
8:2 FTS 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/24/2023 3.80 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMBA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/24/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/24/2023 6.60 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFHxA 7/24/2023 3.90 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/24/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/24/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/24/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/24/2023 4.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID CT0150011 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Connecticut Drinking Water Authority

Connecticut's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find CT regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2021 Arsenic MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1005
2021 Barium MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1010
2021 CYANIDE MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1024
2021 Chromium MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1020
2021 Antimony, Total MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1074
2021 Beryllium, Total MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1075
2021 Selenium MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1045
2021 Cadmium MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1015
2021 Mercury MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1035
2021 Nickel MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1036
2021 Thallium, Total MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1085
2021 Fluoride MR 6 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 1025
2020 Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 5000
2018 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 7000
2018 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 SDWIS / CT0150011 / 0300

How Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County Connecticut avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 585 88.6 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 5 9.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 7 compounds 63.5% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 351,756 1,238 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 2,332 regulated public water systems in Connecticut.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County water safe to drink?
Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County (PWS ID: CT0150011) has 585 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 7 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 351,756 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County serve?
Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County serves 351,756 people in Shelton, Connecticut. It is a Private-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 108,501 service connections.
What type of violations does Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County have?
Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County has 585 total violations: 5 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 576 monitoring/reporting violations, and 5 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds in Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County's water supply: PFPeA, PFBA, PFOS, PFHpA, PFHxA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County use?
Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.