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Community Water System · PWS MA2316000

Webster Water Department

Webster, Massachusetts 01570 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 17,776 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

17,776
People served
171
EPA violations
38
Health-based
3 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 171 drinking-water violations at Webster Water Department, 22% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds.

171
Total EPA violations on record
22%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
17,776
People served by this system
3
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Webster Water Department

Webster Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 17,776 residents in Webster, Massachusetts (Worcester County) through 4,993 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 171 total violations for this system , of which 38 (22%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 106 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 34 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 3 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 4.8 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%).

Webster Water Department's 171 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

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

Population Served
17,776
Total Violations
171
Health-Based Violations
38
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
4,993
County
Worcester
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
34
Monitoring Violations
106
Treatment Tech Violations
4

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 34 2014
Chlorine MR 14 2014
Lead and Copper Rule MR 10 2022
Coliform (TCR) MR 6 2005
TTHM MR 4 2007
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 2007
Lead and Copper Rule TT 4 1993
Coliform (TCR) Other 2 2003
Public Notice Other 2 2013
Nitrate MR 2 1995
Endrin MR 2 1998
Dalapon MR 2 1998
Diquat MR 2 1998
Endothall MR 2 1998
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 2 1998
Simazine MR 2 1998
Picloram MR 2 1998
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 2 1998
Carbofuran MR 2 1998
2,4-D MR 2 1998
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 2 1998
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 2 1998
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 2 1998
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 2 1998
Toxaphene MR 2 1998
Glyphosate MR 2 1998
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 2 1998
Aldicarb sulfoxide MR 2 1998
Dinoseb MR 2 1998
Aldicarb MR 2 1998

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 4 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
HFPO-DA 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/19/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/19/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/19/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/19/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 4/19/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 4/19/2023 4.80 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMPA 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 4/19/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/19/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 4/19/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 4/19/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/19/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/19/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 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 Webster 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 MA2316000 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 Webster 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 Lead and Copper Rule MR 10 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 5000
2014 Coliform (TCR) MCL 34 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 3100
2014 Chlorine MR 14 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 0999
2013 Public Notice Other 2 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 7500
2007 TTHM MR 4 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 2950
2007 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 2456
2005 Coliform (TCR) MR 6 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 3100
2003 Coliform (TCR) Other 2 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 3100
1998 Endrin MR 2 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 2005
1998 Dalapon MR 2 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 2031
1998 Diquat MR 2 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 2032
1998 Endothall MR 2 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 2033
1998 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 2 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 2035
1998 Simazine MR 2 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 2037
1998 Picloram MR 2 SDWIS / MA2316000 / 2040

How Webster Water Department Compares

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

Metric Webster Water Department Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 171 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 38 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 3 compounds 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 17,776 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 Webster Water Department water safe to drink? ▼
Webster Water Department (PWS ID: MA2316000) has 171 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 3 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 17,776 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Webster Water Department serve? ▼
Webster Water Department serves 17,776 people in Webster, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 4,993 service connections.
What type of violations does Webster Water Department have? ▼
Webster Water Department has 171 total violations: 38 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 106 monitoring/reporting violations, and 4 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Webster Water Department water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds in Webster Water Department's water supply: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFOA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Webster Water Department use? ▼
Webster 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.

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.