PlainWater
States → Massachusetts

Community Water System · PWS MA2017000

Auburn Water District

Auburn, Massachusetts 01501 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 12,255 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

12,255
People served
503
EPA violations
28
Health-based
4 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 503 drinking-water violations at Auburn Water District, 6% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds.

503
Total EPA violations on record
6%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
12,255
People served by this system
4
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Auburn Water District

Auburn Water District is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 12,255 residents in Auburn, Massachusetts (Worcester County) through 4,600 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 503 total violations for this system , of which 28 (6%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 453 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 Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 20 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 4 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 5.7 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

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%).

Auburn Water District's 503 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.

PFAS Detected

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

Population Served
12,255
Total Violations
503
Health-Based Violations
28
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
4,600
County
Worcester
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
28
Monitoring Violations
453
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Lead and Copper Rule MR 20 2021
Coliform (TCR) MCL 19 2015
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 14 2020
Xylenes, Total MR 14 2020
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 14 2020
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 14 2020
Vinyl chloride MR 14 2020
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 14 2020
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 14 2020
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 14 2020
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 14 2020
Carbon tetrachloride MR 14 2020
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 14 2020
Tetrachloroethylene MR 14 2020
Ethylbenzene MR 14 2020
Styrene MR 14 2020
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 14 2020
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 14 2020
CHLOROBENZENE MR 14 2020
Benzene MR 14 2020
Toluene MR 14 2020
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 14 2020
Trichloroethylene MR 14 2020
Arsenic MCL 9 2021
Arsenic MR 8 2021
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 7 2020
Public Notice Other 5 2012
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 5 2020
Endrin MR 3 1995
BHC-GAMMA MR 3 1995

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 12 of 348 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 9/4/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/4/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/4/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/4/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/4/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/4/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/4/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/4/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/4/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/4/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/4/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/4/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/4/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/4/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/4/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/4/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/4/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/4/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/4/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/4/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 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 Auburn Water District.

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 MA2017000 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 Auburn Water District 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
2021 Lead and Copper Rule MR 20 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 5000
2021 Arsenic MCL 9 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 1005
2021 Arsenic MR 8 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 1005
2020 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2378
2020 Xylenes, Total MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2955
2020 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2968
2020 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2969
2020 Vinyl chloride MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2976
2020 1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2977
2020 trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2979
2020 1,2-Dichloroethane MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2980
2020 1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2981
2020 Carbon tetrachloride MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2982
2020 1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2985
2020 Tetrachloroethylene MR 14 SDWIS / MA2017000 / 2987

How Auburn Water District Compares

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

Metric Auburn Water District Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 503 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 28 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 4 compounds 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 12,255 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 Auburn Water District water safe to drink? ▼
Auburn Water District (PWS ID: MA2017000) has 503 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 4 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 12,255 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Auburn Water District serve? ▼
Auburn Water District serves 12,255 people in Auburn, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 4,600 service connections.
What type of violations does Auburn Water District have? ▼
Auburn Water District has 503 total violations: 28 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 453 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Auburn Water District water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds in Auburn Water District's water supply: PFOS, PFOA, PFPeA, PFHxA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Auburn Water District use? ▼
Auburn Water District 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.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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.