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Community Water System · PWS MA2343000

Winchendon Water Department

Winchendon, Massachusetts 01475 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 5,706 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

5,706
People served
83
EPA violations
21
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 83 drinking-water violations at Winchendon Water Department, 25% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average.

83
Total EPA violations on record
25%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
5,706
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Winchendon Water Department

Winchendon Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 5,706 residents in Winchendon, Massachusetts (Worcester County) through 2,116 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 83 total violations for this system , of which 21 (25%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 38 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2012.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 11 violations (MCL, health-based). 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%).

Winchendon Water Department's 83 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
5,706
Total Violations
83
Health-Based Violations
21
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
2,116
County
Worcester
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
11
Monitoring Violations
38
Treatment Tech Violations
10

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 11 2012
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 5 2003
Nitrate MR 5 1998
Lead and Copper Rule TT 5 1993
Coliform (TCR) MR 4 2004
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2009
Benzene MR 2 1998
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 2 1998
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 2 1998
Vinyl chloride MR 2 1998
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 2 1998
Trichloroethylene MR 2 1998
Carbon tetrachloride MR 2 1998
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 1998
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 1 1998
CHLOROBENZENE MR 1 1998
Ethylbenzene MR 1 1998
Styrene MR 1 1998
Tetrachloroethylene MR 1 1998
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 1 1998
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 1 1998
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 1 1998
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 1 1998
Toluene MR 1 1998
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 1 1998
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 1 1998
Xylenes, Total MR 1 1998

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFBS 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/10/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/10/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/10/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/10/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/10/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/10/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/20/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/20/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/20/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 4/5/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/5/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 4/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/5/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 4/5/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 4/5/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 4/5/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 4/5/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 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 Winchendon 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 MA2343000 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 Winchendon 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
2012 Coliform (TCR) MCL 11 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 3100
2009 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 7000
2004 Coliform (TCR) MR 4 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 3100
2003 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 5 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 0200
1998 Nitrate MR 5 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 1040
1998 Benzene MR 2 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 2990
1998 1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 2 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 2981
1998 1,2-Dichloroethane MR 2 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 2980
1998 Vinyl chloride MR 2 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 2976
1998 1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 2 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 2977
1998 Trichloroethylene MR 2 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 2984
1998 Carbon tetrachloride MR 2 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 2982
1998 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 2969
1998 trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 1 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 2979
1998 CHLOROBENZENE MR 1 SDWIS / MA2343000 / 2989

How Winchendon Water Department Compares

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

Metric Winchendon Water Department Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 83 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 21 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 5,706 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 Winchendon Water Department water safe to drink? ▼
Winchendon Water Department (PWS ID: MA2343000) has 83 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 5,706 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Winchendon Water Department serve? ▼
Winchendon Water Department serves 5,706 people in Winchendon, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,116 service connections.
What type of violations does Winchendon Water Department have? ▼
Winchendon Water Department has 83 total violations: 21 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 38 monitoring/reporting violations, and 10 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Winchendon Water Department water? ▼
No. Winchendon Water Department was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Winchendon Water Department use? ▼
Winchendon 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.