PlainWater

Community Water System · PWS MA2025000

Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division

Bellingham, Massachusetts 02019 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 16,061 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

16,061
People served
78
EPA violations
40
Health-based
3 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 78 drinking-water violations at Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division, 51% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds.

78
Total EPA violations on record
51%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
16,061
People served by this system
3
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division

Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 16,061 residents in Bellingham, Massachusetts (Norfolk County) through 6,387 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 78 total violations for this system , of which 40 (51%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 24 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 Coliform (TCR), recorded in 28 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 3 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 5 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%).

Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division's 78 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

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

Population Served
16,061
Total Violations
78
Health-Based Violations
40
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
6,387
County
Norfolk
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
40
Monitoring Violations
24
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 28 2015
Coliform (TCR) MR 15 2013
TTHM MCL 12 2021
Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 2018
TTHM MR 1 2005
Radium-226 MR 1 1997
Radium-228 MR 1 1997
Gross Beta Particle Activity MR 1 1997
38-STRONTIUM-90 MR 1 1997
Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 1 2022
Tritium MR 1 1997

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 5 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFDA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/23/2024 4.30 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 9/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/23/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/23/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/23/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/23/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/23/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/23/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/23/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/23/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/23/2024 4.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 9/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/23/2024 <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 Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division.

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 MA2025000 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 Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division 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 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 1 SDWIS / MA2025000 / 8000
2021 TTHM MCL 12 SDWIS / MA2025000 / 2950
2018 Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 SDWIS / MA2025000 / 5000
2015 Coliform (TCR) MCL 28 SDWIS / MA2025000 / 3100
2013 Coliform (TCR) MR 15 SDWIS / MA2025000 / 3100
2005 TTHM MR 1 SDWIS / MA2025000 / 2950
1997 Radium-226 MR 1 SDWIS / MA2025000 / 4020
1997 Radium-228 MR 1 SDWIS / MA2025000 / 4030
1997 Gross Beta Particle Activity MR 1 SDWIS / MA2025000 / 4100
1997 38-STRONTIUM-90 MR 1 SDWIS / MA2025000 / 4174
1997 Tritium MR 1 SDWIS / MA2025000 / 4102

How Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division Compares

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

Metric Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 78 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 40 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 3 compounds 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 16,061 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 Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division water safe to drink?
Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division (PWS ID: MA2025000) has 78 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 3 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 16,061 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division serve?
Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division serves 16,061 people in Bellingham, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 6,387 service connections.
What type of violations does Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division have?
Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division has 78 total violations: 40 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 24 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds in Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division's water supply: PFOA, PFBS, PFOS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division use?
Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division 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.
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.