PlainWater

Community Water System · PWS MA1150000

Lee Water Dept

Lee, Massachusetts 01238 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 5,420 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

5,420
People served
61
EPA violations
7
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 61 drinking-water violations at Lee Water Dept, 11% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average.

61
Total EPA violations on record
11%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
5,420
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Lee Water Dept

Lee Water Dept is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 5,420 residents in Lee, Massachusetts (Berkshire County) through 2,129 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 61 total violations for this system , of which 7 (11%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 35 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2015.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 5 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across Massachusetts, EPA tracks 1,599 public water systems serving 10,332,845 people, with 73,886 cumulative violations and 7,389 health-based violations on record. About 95% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 46.2 violations. Statewide, 148 of 263 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (56.3%).

Lee Water Dept's 61 violations sit above the Massachusetts average.

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

Population Served
5,420
Total Violations
61
Health-Based Violations
7
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
2,129
County
Berkshire
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
3
Monitoring Violations
35
Treatment Tech Violations
4

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 2015
Coliform (TCR) MCL 3 2013
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 1992
Lead and Copper Rule TT 2 1996
Endrin MR 1 2005
BHC-GAMMA MR 1 2005
Methoxychlor MR 1 2005
Dalapon MR 1 2005
Endothall MR 1 2005
Glyphosate MR 1 2005
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 1 2005
OXAMYL MR 1 2005
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 1 2005
Picloram MR 1 2005
Dinoseb MR 1 2005
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 1 2005
Atrazine MR 1 2005
2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 1 2005
Heptachlor epoxide MR 1 2005
2,4-D MR 1 2005
2,4,5-TP MR 1 2005
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 1 2005
Pentachlorophenol MR 1 2005
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 1 2005
Chlordane MR 1 2005
Heptachlor MR 1 2005
LASSO MR 1 2005
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 1 2005
Carbofuran MR 1 2005
Simazine MR 1 2005

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFDoA 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/6/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/6/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/6/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/6/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/6/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/6/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/6/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/6/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/6/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/6/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/6/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/6/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/6/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/6/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/6/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/6/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/6/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/6/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/8/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/8/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/8/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/8/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/8/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/8/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/8/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 5/8/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/8/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/8/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/8/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/8/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/8/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/8/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/8/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/8/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/8/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/8/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/8/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/8/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/8/2024 <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 Lee Water Dept.

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 MA1150000 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Massachusetts Drinking Water Authority

MassDEP, Drinking Water Program is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Lee Water Dept under EPA-delegated authority.

Open MA regulator portal

Source: MassDEP, Drinking Water Program

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
2015 Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 5000
2013 Coliform (TCR) MCL 3 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 3100
2005 Endrin MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2005
2005 BHC-GAMMA MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2010
2005 Methoxychlor MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2015
2005 Dalapon MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2031
2005 Endothall MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2033
2005 Glyphosate MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2034
2005 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2035
2005 OXAMYL MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2036
2005 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2039
2005 Picloram MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2040
2005 Dinoseb MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2041
2005 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2042
2005 Atrazine MR 1 SDWIS / MA1150000 / 2050

How Lee Water Dept Compares

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

Metric Lee Water Dept Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 61 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 7 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 5,420 6,462 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 1,599 regulated public water systems in Massachusetts.

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 Lee Water Dept water safe to drink?
Lee Water Dept (PWS ID: MA1150000) has 61 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 5,420 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Lee Water Dept serve?
Lee Water Dept serves 5,420 people in Lee, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,129 service connections.
What type of violations does Lee Water Dept have?
Lee Water Dept has 61 total violations: 7 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 35 monitoring/reporting violations, and 4 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Lee Water Dept water?
No. Lee Water Dept was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Lee Water Dept use?
Lee Water Dept 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.