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Community Water System · PWS MA2011000

Ashburnham Water Department

Ashburnham, Massachusetts 01430 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 3,680 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

3,680
People served
214
EPA violations
17
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 214 drinking-water violations at Ashburnham Water Department, 8% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average.

214
Total EPA violations on record
8%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
3,680
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Ashburnham Water Department

Ashburnham Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 3,680 residents in Ashburnham, Massachusetts (Worcester County) through 1,206 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 214 total violations for this system , of which 17 (8%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 167 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2022.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Chlorine, recorded in 16 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%).

Ashburnham Water Department's 214 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
3,680
Total Violations
214
Health-Based Violations
17
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,206
County
Worcester
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
13
Monitoring Violations
167
Treatment Tech Violations
4

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Chlorine MR 16 2017
Coliform (TCR) MCL 13 2014
Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 2022
Nitrate MR 5 2003
Nitrite MR 4 2003
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2012
Coliform (TCR) MR 4 2014
Lead and Copper Rule TT 3 1993
Arsenic MR 2 2003
Cadmium MR 2 2003
Chromium MR 2 2003
CYANIDE MR 2 2003
Fluoride MR 2 2003
Selenium MR 2 2003
Antimony, Total MR 2 2003
Thallium, Total MR 2 2003
Picloram MR 2 2003
Dinoseb MR 2 2003
Carbofuran MR 2 2003
Atrazine MR 2 2003
LASSO MR 2 2003
2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 2 2003
Heptachlor MR 2 2003
2,4,5-TP MR 2 2003
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 2 2003
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 2 2003
Pentachlorophenol MR 2 2003
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 2 2003
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 2 2003
Xylenes, Total MR 2 2003

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

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

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

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 MA2011000 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 Ashburnham Water Department 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
2022 Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 5000
2017 Chlorine MR 16 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 0999
2014 Coliform (TCR) MCL 13 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 3100
2014 Coliform (TCR) MR 4 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 3100
2012 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 7000
2011 Asbestos MR 2 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 1094
2008 TTHM MR 2 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 2950
2008 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 2 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 2456
2003 Nitrate MR 5 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 1040
2003 Nitrite MR 4 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 1041
2003 Arsenic MR 2 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 1005
2003 Cadmium MR 2 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 1015
2003 Chromium MR 2 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 1020
2003 CYANIDE MR 2 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 1024
2003 Fluoride MR 2 SDWIS / MA2011000 / 1025

How Ashburnham Water Department Compares

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

Metric Ashburnham Water Department Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 214 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 17 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 3,680 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 Ashburnham Water Department water safe to drink?
Ashburnham Water Department (PWS ID: MA2011000) has 214 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 3,680 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Ashburnham Water Department serve?
Ashburnham Water Department serves 3,680 people in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 1,206 service connections.
What type of violations does Ashburnham Water Department have?
Ashburnham Water Department has 214 total violations: 17 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 167 monitoring/reporting violations, and 4 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Ashburnham Water Department water?
No. Ashburnham Water Department was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Ashburnham Water Department use?
Ashburnham Water Department 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.