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Community Water System · PWS CT1180011

Aquarion-Ridgefield

Shelton, Connecticut 06484 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 7,476 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

7,476
People served
93
EPA violations
7
Health-based
7 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 93 drinking-water violations at Aquarion-Ridgefield, 8% of them health-based - above the Connecticut per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds.

93
Total EPA violations on record
8%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
7,476
People served by this system
7
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Aquarion-Ridgefield

Aquarion-Ridgefield is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 7,476 residents in Shelton, Connecticut (Fairfield County) through 2,814 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 93 total violations for this system , of which 7 (8%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 66 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 Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 7 violations (TT, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 7 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 10.6 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-Ridgefield's 93 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
7,476
Total Violations
93
Health-Based Violations
7
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Private
Connections
2,814
County
Fairfield
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
66
Treatment Tech Violations
7

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 7 1992
Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 2021
Nickel MR 6 1992
Fluoride MR 4 1992
Chromium MR 4 1992
Cadmium MR 4 1992
Barium MR 4 1992
Thallium, Total MR 4 1992
Beryllium, Total MR 4 1992
Antimony, Total MR 4 1992
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2018
Selenium MR 4 1992
Coliform (TCR) MR 4 1993
Mercury MR 4 1992
CYANIDE MR 4 1992
Arsenic MR 4 1992
E. COLI MR 4 2019
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 2 1991
Public Notice Other 2 2021

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 25 of 290 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 9/4/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/4/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/4/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/4/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/4/2024 3.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMPA 9/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/4/2024 3.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/4/2024 6.50 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 9/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/4/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/4/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/4/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/4/2024 6.10 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
8:2 FTS 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/4/2024 5.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/4/2024 3.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 9/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/4/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/4/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/4/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/4/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not 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-Ridgefield.

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 CT1180011 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 Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 5000
2021 Public Notice Other 2 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 7500
2019 E. COLI MR 4 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 3014
2018 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 7000
1993 Coliform (TCR) MR 4 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 3100
1992 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 7 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 0200
1992 Nickel MR 6 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 1036
1992 Fluoride MR 4 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 1025
1992 Chromium MR 4 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 1020
1992 Cadmium MR 4 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 1015
1992 Barium MR 4 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 1010
1992 Thallium, Total MR 4 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 1085
1992 Beryllium, Total MR 4 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 1075
1992 Antimony, Total MR 4 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 1074
1992 Selenium MR 4 SDWIS / CT1180011 / 1045

How Aquarion-Ridgefield Compares

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

Metric Aquarion-Ridgefield Connecticut avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 93 88.6 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 7 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 7,476 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-Ridgefield water safe to drink?
Aquarion-Ridgefield (PWS ID: CT1180011) has 93 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 7 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 7,476 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Aquarion-Ridgefield serve?
Aquarion-Ridgefield serves 7,476 people in Shelton, Connecticut. It is a Private-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,814 service connections.
What type of violations does Aquarion-Ridgefield have?
Aquarion-Ridgefield has 93 total violations: 7 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 66 monitoring/reporting violations, and 7 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Aquarion-Ridgefield water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds in Aquarion-Ridgefield's water supply: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Aquarion-Ridgefield use?
Aquarion-Ridgefield 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.