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Community Water System · PWS MA3071000

Danvers Water Dept.

Middleton, Massachusetts 01949 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 28,087 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

28,087
People served
56
EPA violations
7
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 56 drinking-water violations at Danvers Water Dept., 13% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

56
Total EPA violations on record
13%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
28,087
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Danvers Water Dept.

Danvers Water Dept. is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 28,087 residents in Middleton, Massachusetts (Essex County) through 8,217 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 56 total violations for this system , of which 7 (13%) 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 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 7 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 5.2 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%).

Danvers Water Dept.'s 56 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
28,087
Total Violations
56
Health-Based Violations
7
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
8,217
County
Essex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
7
Monitoring Violations
38
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 7 2002
Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 2025
Radium-226 MR 2 2011
Gross Beta Particle Activity MR 2 2011
TTHM MR 2 2007
Combined Uranium MR 2 2011
53-IODINE-131 MR 2 2011
Coliform (TCR) MR 2 2007
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 2 2011
Tritium MR 2 2011
38-STRONTIUM-90 MR 2 2011
Radium-228 MR 2 2011
Chromium MR 1 2007
Beryllium, Total MR 1 2007
Nickel MR 1 2007
Nitrate MR 1 2007
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 1 2007
Fluoride MR 1 2007
Mercury MR 1 2007
Barium MR 1 2007
Thallium, Total MR 1 2007
CYANIDE MR 1 2007
Arsenic MR 1 2007
Antimony, Total MR 1 2007
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 1 2007
Cadmium MR 1 2007
Selenium MR 1 2007

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 145 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFHxS 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/12/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/12/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/12/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/12/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/12/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/12/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/16/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/16/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/16/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/16/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/16/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/16/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/16/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/16/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/16/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 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 Danvers 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 MA3071000 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 Danvers 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
2025 Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 5000
2011 Radium-226 MR 2 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 4020
2011 Gross Beta Particle Activity MR 2 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 4100
2011 Combined Uranium MR 2 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 4006
2011 53-IODINE-131 MR 2 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 4264
2011 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 2 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 4000
2011 Tritium MR 2 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 4102
2011 38-STRONTIUM-90 MR 2 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 4174
2011 Radium-228 MR 2 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 4030
2007 TTHM MR 2 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 2950
2007 Coliform (TCR) MR 2 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 3100
2007 Chromium MR 1 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 1020
2007 Beryllium, Total MR 1 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 1075
2007 Nickel MR 1 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 1036
2007 Nitrate MR 1 SDWIS / MA3071000 / 1040

How Danvers Water Dept. Compares

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

Metric Danvers Water Dept. Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 56 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 7 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 28,087 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 Danvers Water Dept. water safe to drink? ▼
Danvers Water Dept. (PWS ID: MA3071000) has 56 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 28,087 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Danvers Water Dept. serve? ▼
Danvers Water Dept. serves 28,087 people in Middleton, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 8,217 service connections.
What type of violations does Danvers Water Dept. have? ▼
Danvers Water Dept. has 56 total violations: 7 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 38 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Danvers Water Dept. water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Danvers Water Dept.'s water supply: PFOS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Danvers Water Dept. use? ▼
Danvers 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.

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.