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Community Water System · PWS MA3107000

Gloucester Public Utility Division

Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 37,440 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

37,440
People served
171
EPA violations
5
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 171 drinking-water violations at Gloucester Public Utility Division, 3% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average.

171
Total EPA violations on record
3%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
37,440
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Gloucester Public Utility Division

Gloucester Public Utility Division is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 37,440 residents in Gloucester, Massachusetts (Essex County) through 15,141 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 171 total violations for this system , of which 5 (3%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 145 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2013.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is 2,4-D, recorded in 4 violations (MR). 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%).

Gloucester Public Utility Division'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.

Population Served
37,440
Total Violations
171
Health-Based Violations
5
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
15,141
County
Essex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
5
Monitoring Violations
145
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
2,4-D MR 4 2007
Toxaphene MR 4 2007
Methoxychlor MR 4 2007
BHC-GAMMA MR 4 2007
Endrin MR 4 2007
2,4,5-TP MR 4 2007
Coliform (TCR) MCL 3 2009
Nitrate MR 3 2007
TTHM MCL 2 2000
Endothall MR 2 2007
Picloram MR 2 2007
Simazine MR 2 2007
Antimony, Total MR 2 2007
Beryllium, Total MR 2 2007
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2013
Nickel MR 2 2007
Thallium, Total MR 2 2007
Fluoride MR 2 2007
Mercury MR 2 2007
Benzene MR 2 2007
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2007
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 2 2007
Selenium MR 2 2007
Trichloroethylene MR 2 2007
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 2 2007
Vinyl chloride MR 2 2007
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2007
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2007
Ethylbenzene MR 2 2007
Styrene MR 2 2007

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFUnA 9/9/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/9/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/9/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/9/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/9/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/9/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/9/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/9/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/9/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/9/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/9/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/26/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/26/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/26/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/26/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/26/2023 <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 Gloucester Public Utility Division.

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 MA3107000 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 Gloucester Public Utility Division 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
2013 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 7000
2009 Coliform (TCR) MCL 3 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 3100
2009 Coliform (TCR) MR 2 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 3100
2007 2,4-D MR 4 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 2105
2007 Toxaphene MR 4 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 2020
2007 Methoxychlor MR 4 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 2015
2007 BHC-GAMMA MR 4 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 2010
2007 Endrin MR 4 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 2005
2007 2,4,5-TP MR 4 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 2110
2007 Nitrate MR 3 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 1040
2007 Endothall MR 2 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 2033
2007 Picloram MR 2 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 2040
2007 Simazine MR 2 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 2037
2007 Antimony, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 1074
2007 Beryllium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA3107000 / 1075

How Gloucester Public Utility Division Compares

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

Metric Gloucester Public Utility Division Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 171 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 5 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 37,440 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 Gloucester Public Utility Division water safe to drink? ▼
Gloucester Public Utility Division (PWS ID: MA3107000) has 171 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 37,440 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Gloucester Public Utility Division serve? ▼
Gloucester Public Utility Division serves 37,440 people in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 15,141 service connections.
What type of violations does Gloucester Public Utility Division have? ▼
Gloucester Public Utility Division has 171 total violations: 5 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 145 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Gloucester Public Utility Division water? ▼
No. Gloucester Public Utility Division was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Gloucester Public Utility Division use? ▼
Gloucester Public Utility Division 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.