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Community Water System · PWS MA2103000

Gardner Water Department

Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 21,287 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

21,287
People served
100
EPA violations
12
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 100 drinking-water violations at Gardner Water Department, 12% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average.

100
Total EPA violations on record
12%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
21,287
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Gardner Water Department

Gardner Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 21,287 residents in Gardner, Massachusetts (Worcester County) through 5,804 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 100 total violations for this system , of which 12 (12%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 62 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 5 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%).

Gardner Water Department's 100 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
21,287
Total Violations
100
Health-Based Violations
12
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
5,804
County
Worcester
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
5
Monitoring Violations
62
Treatment Tech Violations
7

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MR 5 2000
Coliform (TCR) MCL 5 2000
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 2022
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2004
Vinyl chloride MR 3 2004
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2004
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 3 2004
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 3 2004
Trichloroethylene MR 3 2004
Carbon tetrachloride MR 3 2004
Lead and Copper Rule TT 3 1993
Benzene MR 3 2004
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 2 2004
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2004
Xylenes, Total MR 2 2004
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 2 2004
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 2 2004
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 2 2004
Tetrachloroethylene MR 2 2004
CHLOROBENZENE MR 2 2004
Toluene MR 2 2004
Ethylbenzene MR 2 2004
Bromate MR 2 2005
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2004
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 2004
Styrene MR 2 2004
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 1 2006
Nitrate MR 1 1993
Chromium MR 1 1993
Barium MR 1 1993

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

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

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
6:2 FTS 9/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/11/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/11/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/11/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/11/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/11/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/11/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/11/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/11/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/11/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/11/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/11/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/11/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/11/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/5/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/5/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/5/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/5/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/5/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/5/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/5/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/5/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/5/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 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 Gardner 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 MA2103000 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 Gardner 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 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 0200
2006 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 1 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 7000
2005 Bromate MR 2 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 1011
2004 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2969
2004 Vinyl chloride MR 3 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2976
2004 1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2977
2004 1,2-Dichloroethane MR 3 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2980
2004 1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 3 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2981
2004 Trichloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2984
2004 Carbon tetrachloride MR 3 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2982
2004 Benzene MR 3 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2990
2004 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 2 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2378
2004 cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2380
2004 Xylenes, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2955
2004 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 2 SDWIS / MA2103000 / 2964

How Gardner Water Department Compares

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

Metric Gardner Water Department Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 100 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 12 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 21,287 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 Gardner Water Department water safe to drink? ▼
Gardner Water Department (PWS ID: MA2103000) has 100 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 21,287 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Gardner Water Department serve? ▼
Gardner Water Department serves 21,287 people in Gardner, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 5,804 service connections.
What type of violations does Gardner Water Department have? ▼
Gardner Water Department has 100 total violations: 12 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 62 monitoring/reporting violations, and 7 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Gardner Water Department water? ▼
No. Gardner Water Department was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Gardner Water Department use? ▼
Gardner 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.

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.