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Community Water System · PWS MA2021000

Barre Water Department

Barre, Massachusetts 01005 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 4,098 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

4,098
People served
217
EPA violations
39
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 217 drinking-water violations at Barre Water Department, 18% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average.

217
Total EPA violations on record
18%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
4,098
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Barre Water Department

Barre Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 4,098 residents in Barre, Massachusetts (Worcester County) through 1,132 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 217 total violations for this system , of which 39 (18%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 154 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Groundwater Rule, recorded in 36 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%).

Barre Water Department's 217 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
4,098
Total Violations
217
Health-Based Violations
39
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,132
County
Worcester
School/Daycare
Yes
MCL Violations
34
Monitoring Violations
154
Treatment Tech Violations
5

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Groundwater Rule MR 36 2025
Coliform (TCR) MCL 34 2014
Lead and Copper Rule TT 5 1994
Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 2021
Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 4 2024
Atrazine MR 2 2013
Chlordane MR 2 2013
2,4-D MR 2 2013
Heptachlor epoxide MR 2 2013
Heptachlor MR 2 2013
Pentachlorophenol MR 2 2013
Toxaphene MR 2 2013
2,4,5-TP MR 2 2013
BHC-GAMMA MR 2 2013
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 2 2013
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 2 2013
Dalapon MR 2 2013
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 2 2013
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 2 2013
Endothall MR 2 2013
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 2 2013
Picloram MR 2 2013
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2013
Radium-228 MR 2 2024
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 2 1998
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 2 1998
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 1998
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 1998
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 2 1998
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 2 1998

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 174 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFTrDA 6/20/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/20/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/20/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/4/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 4/4/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/4/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/4/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 4/4/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/4/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/4/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/4/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/4/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/4/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/4/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/4/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 4/4/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 4/4/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 4/4/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/4/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/4/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/4/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/4/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/4/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/4/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/4/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/4/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/4/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/4/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 4/4/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/4/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/4/2023 <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 Barre 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 MA2021000 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 Barre 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
2025 Groundwater Rule MR 36 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 0700
2024 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 4 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 8000
2024 Radium-228 MR 2 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 4030
2024 Radium-226 MR 2 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 4020
2021 Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 5000
2014 Coliform (TCR) MCL 34 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 3100
2013 Atrazine MR 2 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 2050
2013 Chlordane MR 2 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 2959
2013 2,4-D MR 2 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 2105
2013 Heptachlor epoxide MR 2 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 2067
2013 Heptachlor MR 2 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 2065
2013 Pentachlorophenol MR 2 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 2326
2013 Toxaphene MR 2 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 2020
2013 2,4,5-TP MR 2 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 2110
2013 BHC-GAMMA MR 2 SDWIS / MA2021000 / 2010

How Barre Water Department Compares

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

Metric Barre Water Department Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 217 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 39 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 4,098 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 Barre Water Department water safe to drink? ▼
Barre Water Department (PWS ID: MA2021000) has 217 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 4,098 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Barre Water Department serve? ▼
Barre Water Department serves 4,098 people in Barre, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,132 service connections.
What type of violations does Barre Water Department have? ▼
Barre Water Department has 217 total violations: 39 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 154 monitoring/reporting violations, and 5 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Barre Water Department water? ▼
No. Barre Water Department was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Barre Water Department use? ▼
Barre Water Department uses Groundwater 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.