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Community Water System · PWS MA3048000

Burlington Water Dept

Burlington, Massachusetts 01803 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 26,680 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

26,680
People served
278
EPA violations
9
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 278 drinking-water violations at Burlington Water Dept, 3% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

278
Total EPA violations on record
3%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
26,680
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Burlington Water Dept

Burlington Water Dept is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 26,680 residents in Burlington, Massachusetts (Middlesex County) through 9,403 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 278 total violations for this system , of which 9 (3%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 246 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 9 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 11 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%).

Burlington Water Dept's 278 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
26,680
Total Violations
278
Health-Based Violations
9
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
9,403
County
Middlesex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
9
Monitoring Violations
246
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 9 2014
CYANIDE MR 5 2012
Mercury MR 5 2012
Coliform (TCR) MR 5 2007
Xylenes, Total MR 4 2011
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 4 2011
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 4 2011
Carbon tetrachloride MR 4 2011
Trichloroethylene MR 4 2011
Tetrachloroethylene MR 4 2011
CHLOROBENZENE MR 4 2011
Benzene MR 4 2011
Styrene MR 4 2011
Arsenic MR 4 2012
Selenium MR 4 2012
Beryllium, Total MR 4 2012
Nickel MR 4 2012
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2019
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 4 2011
Vinyl chloride MR 4 2011
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 4 2011
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 4 2011
Ethylbenzene MR 4 2011
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 4 2011
Cadmium MR 4 2012
Chromium MR 4 2012
Antimony, Total MR 4 2012
Thallium, Total MR 4 2012
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 4 2011
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 4 2011

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 2 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
8:2 FTS 7/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/11/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/11/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/11/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/11/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/11/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/11/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/11/2024 7.90 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
NFDHA 7/11/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/11/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/11/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/11/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/11/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/11/2024 <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 Burlington 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 MA3048000 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 Burlington 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
2023 Nitrate MR 2 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 1040
2023 Nitrite MR 2 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 1041
2019 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 7000
2014 Coliform (TCR) MCL 9 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 3100
2014 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 2 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 4000
2014 Radium-226 MR 1 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 4020
2014 Asbestos MR 1 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 1094
2012 CYANIDE MR 5 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 1024
2012 Mercury MR 5 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 1035
2012 Arsenic MR 4 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 1005
2012 Selenium MR 4 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 1045
2012 Beryllium, Total MR 4 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 1075
2012 Nickel MR 4 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 1036
2012 Cadmium MR 4 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 1015
2012 Chromium MR 4 SDWIS / MA3048000 / 1020

How Burlington Water Dept Compares

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

Metric Burlington Water Dept Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 278 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 9 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 26,680 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 Burlington Water Dept water safe to drink?
Burlington Water Dept (PWS ID: MA3048000) has 278 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 26,680 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Burlington Water Dept serve?
Burlington Water Dept serves 26,680 people in Burlington, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 9,403 service connections.
What type of violations does Burlington Water Dept have?
Burlington Water Dept has 278 total violations: 9 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 246 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Burlington Water Dept water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Burlington Water Dept's water supply: PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Burlington Water Dept use?
Burlington Water Dept 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.
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.