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Community Water System · PWS MA2077000

Douglas Water Department

Douglas, Massachusetts 01516 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 4,400 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

4,400
People served
64
EPA violations
23
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 64 drinking-water violations at Douglas Water Department, 36% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average.

64
Total EPA violations on record
36%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
4,400
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Douglas Water Department

Douglas Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 4,400 residents in Douglas, Massachusetts (Worcester County) through 1,251 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 64 total violations for this system , of which 23 (36%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 33 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2014.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 23 violations (MCL, health-based). 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%).

Douglas Water Department's 64 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
4,400
Total Violations
64
Health-Based Violations
23
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,251
County
Worcester
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
23
Monitoring Violations
33
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 23 2014
Endrin MR 1 1998
BHC-GAMMA MR 1 1998
Methoxychlor MR 1 1998
Dalapon MR 1 1998
Diquat MR 1 1998
Endothall MR 1 1998
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 1 1998
OXAMYL MR 1 1998
Aldicarb sulfone MR 1 1998
Carbofuran MR 1 1998
Atrazine MR 1 1998
LASSO MR 1 1998
2,4-D MR 1 1998
2,4,5-TP MR 1 1998
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 1 1998
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 1 1998
Simazine MR 1 1998
Toxaphene MR 1 1998
Chlordane MR 1 1998
Picloram MR 1 1998
Glyphosate MR 1 1998
Aldicarb sulfoxide MR 1 1998
2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 1 1998
Aldicarb MR 1 1998
Heptachlor MR 1 1998
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 1 1998
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 1 1998
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 1 1998
Dinoseb MR 1 1998

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 58 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFPeA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/2/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/2/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/2/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/2/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/2/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/2/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/2/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/2/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/2/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/2/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/2/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/2/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/2/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/2/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/2/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/2/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/2/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/2/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/2/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/2/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/2/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/2/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/2/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/2/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/2/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/2/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/2/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/2/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/2/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/2/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/2/2025 <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 Douglas 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 MA2077000 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 Douglas 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
2014 Coliform (TCR) MCL 23 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 3100
1998 Endrin MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2005
1998 BHC-GAMMA MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2010
1998 Methoxychlor MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2015
1998 Dalapon MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2031
1998 Diquat MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2032
1998 Endothall MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2033
1998 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2035
1998 OXAMYL MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2036
1998 Aldicarb sulfone MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2044
1998 Carbofuran MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2046
1998 Atrazine MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2050
1998 LASSO MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2051
1998 2,4-D MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2105
1998 2,4,5-TP MR 1 SDWIS / MA2077000 / 2110

How Douglas Water Department Compares

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

Metric Douglas Water Department Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 64 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 23 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 4,400 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 Douglas Water Department water safe to drink?
Douglas Water Department (PWS ID: MA2077000) has 64 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 4,400 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Douglas Water Department serve?
Douglas Water Department serves 4,400 people in Douglas, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,251 service connections.
What type of violations does Douglas Water Department have?
Douglas Water Department has 64 total violations: 23 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 33 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Douglas Water Department water?
No. Douglas Water Department was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Douglas Water Department use?
Douglas 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.
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.