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Community Water System · PWS MA2175000

Medfield Water Dept.

Medfield, Massachusetts 02052 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 12,894 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

12,894
People served
135
EPA violations
26
Health-based
5 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 135 drinking-water violations at Medfield Water Dept., 19% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.

135
Total EPA violations on record
19%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
12,894
People served by this system
5
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Medfield Water Dept.

Medfield Water Dept. is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 12,894 residents in Medfield, Massachusetts (Norfolk County) through 4,128 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 135 total violations for this system , of which 26 (19%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 95 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 24 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 7 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%).

Medfield Water Dept.'s 135 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

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

Population Served
12,894
Total Violations
135
Health-Based Violations
26
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
4,128
County
Norfolk
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
26
Monitoring Violations
95
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 24 2012
Chlorine MR 5 2009
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 4 2008
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 4 2008
Xylenes, Total MR 4 2008
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 4 2008
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 4 2008
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 4 2008
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 4 2008
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 4 2008
Carbon tetrachloride MR 4 2008
Trichloroethylene MR 4 2008
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 4 2008
CHLOROBENZENE MR 4 2008
Benzene MR 4 2008
Styrene MR 4 2008
Vinyl chloride MR 4 2008
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 4 2008
Ethylbenzene MR 4 2008
Tetrachloroethylene MR 4 2008
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 4 2008
Toluene MR 4 2008
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 4 2008
Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 1997
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2009
Coliform (TCR) MR 2 2008
Revised Total Coliform Rule MCL 2 2018
Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 1 2022
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 1 1991

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 10 of 174 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
6:2 FTS 9/24/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/24/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/24/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/24/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/24/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/24/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/24/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/24/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/24/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/24/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/24/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/24/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/24/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/24/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/24/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/24/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/24/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/24/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/24/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/24/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/24/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/24/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/24/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/24/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/24/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/24/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/24/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/24/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/24/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/24/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/24/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 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 Medfield Water Dept..

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 MA2175000 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 Medfield Water Dept. 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 / MA2175000 / 8000
2018 Revised Total Coliform Rule MCL 2 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 8000
2012 Coliform (TCR) MCL 24 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 3100
2009 Chlorine MR 5 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 0999
2009 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 7000
2008 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 4 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 2378
2008 cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 4 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 2380
2008 Xylenes, Total MR 4 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 2955
2008 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 4 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 2968
2008 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 4 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 2969
2008 1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 4 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 2977
2008 trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 4 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 2979
2008 1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 4 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 2981
2008 Carbon tetrachloride MR 4 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 2982
2008 Trichloroethylene MR 4 SDWIS / MA2175000 / 2984

How Medfield Water Dept. Compares

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

Metric Medfield Water Dept. Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 135 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 26 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 5 compounds 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 12,894 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 Medfield Water Dept. water safe to drink?
Medfield Water Dept. (PWS ID: MA2175000) has 135 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 12,894 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Medfield Water Dept. serve?
Medfield Water Dept. serves 12,894 people in Medfield, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 4,128 service connections.
What type of violations does Medfield Water Dept. have?
Medfield Water Dept. has 135 total violations: 26 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 95 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Medfield Water Dept. water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Medfield Water Dept.'s water supply: PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Medfield Water Dept. use?
Medfield Water Dept. 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.