Community Water System · PWS MA2103000
Gardner Water Department
Operator location Gardner, Massachusetts - larger served population (> 3,309) at 21,287 people served; 100 SDWIS violations on record from surface water sources.
- 21,287
- People served (this PWS)
- 100
- EPA violations (this PWS)
- 12
- Health-based (this PWS)
- No PFAS
- UCMR5 (this PWS)
Gardner Water Department standing, high SDWIS violation third
21,287 people served (SDWIS) - larger served population (> 3,309). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 12% is middle-third health share (≤ 23%). UCMR5: UCMR5 tested, none detected. Population rank #2,571 of 29,740 among systems serving 500+.
The verdict
Gardner Water Department sits in the upper third of the sitemap cohort by violation count (100), so the tables below sample a dense compliance trail rather than a near-clean ledger. Population served is large (21,287; larger served population (> 3,309)), so household exposure scale sits behind the violation mix. Health-based share is 12% (middle-third health share (≤ 23%)). UCMR5 tested this system and reported no PFAS above the minimum reporting level.
- #2,571 of 29,740
- Population · /systems
- #110 of 418
- Population · MA
- 100
- Total EPA violations on record
- 12%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
Population ordinals match the sitemap cohort (systems serving 500+, population_served DESC). See methodology · corpus placement.
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 |
Violation Count vs. the National Corpus
Gardner Water Department has 100 recorded EPA violations, 73% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 27% carry more. 12% of this system's own violations are health-based (12 of 100), and it ranks #2,571 of 29,740 by population served among that same cohort.
EPA violations vs. the national water-system corpus
Public water systems serving 500+ people (EPA SDWIS)
100 Around the middle fewer violations than 27% of 29,740 water systems
the national water-system corpus, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more water systems. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source EPA SDWIS · 2026-05-15
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 |
Population served record for Gardner Water Department
EPA SDWIS lists 21,287 people served and 5,804 connections for this PWS, confirm the service-area footprint on the federal report before comparing to municipal census totals.
Sources: EPA SDWIS · MassDEP, Drinking Water Program
Nationwide peers
100 violations · 21,287 served: nearest cross-state SDWIS matches.
Cross-state systems with comparable violation load
Nearest cross-state community systems (500+ served) by total SDWIS violations on record.
Cross-state systems with similar served population
Nearest cross-state systems by EPA SDWIS population_served (same 500+ sitemap gate).
What to do with Gardner Water Department
Use this system's EPA-reported record as a starting filter, not a final verdict.
- See how every tracked system in Massachusetts compares on the same EPA violation measures. Massachusetts systems
- Check whether PFAS was detected at this system under UCMR5 testing. PFAS guide
- Find and compare another public water system by name or PWSID. Search systems
EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 figures are informational only, not a substitute for a certified lab test of your own tap water.