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Community Water System · PWS MA2115000

Groton Water Department

Groton, Massachusetts 01450 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 5,456 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

5,456
People served
110
EPA violations
0
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 110 drinking-water violations at Groton Water Department - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

110
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
5,456
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Groton Water Department

Groton Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 5,456 residents in Groton, Massachusetts (Middlesex County) through 1,708 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 110 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 91 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2013.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 26 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 3 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%).

Groton Water Department's 110 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

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

Population Served
5,456
Total Violations
110
Health-Based Violations
0
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,708
County
Middlesex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
91
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MR 26 2004
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2003
Chlordane MR 2 2013
Heptachlor MR 2 2013
Pentachlorophenol MR 2 2013
Toxaphene MR 2 2013
2,4,5-TP MR 2 2013
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 2 2013
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 2 2013
Dinoseb MR 2 2013
Glyphosate MR 2 2013
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 2 2013
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 2 2013
Simazine MR 2 2013
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 2 2006
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 2 2013
OXAMYL MR 2 2013
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 2 2013
Heptachlor epoxide MR 2 2013
Endothall MR 2 2013
Diquat MR 2 2013
LASSO MR 2 2013
Endrin MR 2 2013
Methoxychlor MR 2 2013
Dalapon MR 2 2013
TTHM MR 2 2006
Picloram MR 2 2013
Carbofuran MR 2 2013
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 2 2013
Atrazine MR 2 2013

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
6:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/4/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/4/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/4/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/4/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/4/2024 3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/4/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 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 Groton 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 MA2115000 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 Groton 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
2013 Chlordane MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2959
2013 Heptachlor MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2065
2013 Pentachlorophenol MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2326
2013 Toxaphene MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2020
2013 2,4,5-TP MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2110
2013 Benzo(a)pyrene MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2306
2013 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2035
2013 Dinoseb MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2041
2013 Glyphosate MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2034
2013 HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2274
2013 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2042
2013 Simazine MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2037
2013 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2931
2013 OXAMYL MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2036
2013 ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 2 SDWIS / MA2115000 / 2946

How Groton Water Department Compares

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

Metric Groton Water Department Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 110 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 0 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 5,456 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 Groton Water Department water safe to drink?
Groton Water Department (PWS ID: MA2115000) has 110 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 5,456 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Groton Water Department serve?
Groton Water Department serves 5,456 people in Groton, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,708 service connections.
What type of violations does Groton Water Department have?
Groton Water Department has 110 total violations: 0 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 91 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Groton Water Department water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Groton Water Department's water supply: PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Groton Water Department use?
Groton 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.