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Community Water System · PWS MA3144000

Ipswich Dpu Water Dept

Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 13,090 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

13,090
People served
75
EPA violations
10
Health-based
6 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 75 drinking-water violations at Ipswich Dpu Water Dept, 13% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds.

75
Total EPA violations on record
13%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
13,090
People served by this system
6
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Ipswich Dpu Water Dept

Ipswich Dpu Water Dept is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 13,090 residents in Ipswich, Massachusetts (Essex County) through 4,863 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 75 total violations for this system , of which 10 (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 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 6 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 6 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 20.6 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%).

Ipswich Dpu Water Dept's 75 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

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

Population Served
13,090
Total Violations
75
Health-Based Violations
10
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
4,863
County
Essex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
8
Monitoring Violations
38
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 2007
Methoxychlor MR 2 2007
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2016
Lead and Copper Rule TT 2 1994
BHC-GAMMA MR 2 2007
2,4,5-TP MR 2 2007
Toxaphene MR 2 2007
Endrin MR 2 2007
Chlorite MCL 2 2005
2,4-D MR 2 2007
Heptachlor epoxide MR 1 2007
Heptachlor MR 1 2007
Pentachlorophenol MR 1 2007
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 1 2007
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 1 2007
Dalapon MR 1 2007
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 1 2007
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 1 2007
Dinoseb MR 1 2007
Endothall MR 1 2007
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 1 2007
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 1 2007
2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 1 2007
LASSO MR 1 2007
Chlordane MR 1 2007
Simazine MR 1 2007
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 1 2007
OXAMYL MR 1 2007
Picloram MR 1 2007
Atrazine MR 1 2007

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 13 of 348 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFTA 8/5/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/5/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/5/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/5/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/5/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/5/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/5/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/5/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/5/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/5/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/5/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/5/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/5/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/5/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/5/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/5/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/5/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/5/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/25/2024 5.60 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
6:2 FTS 6/25/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/25/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/25/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/25/2024 10.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMBA 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/25/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/25/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/25/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/25/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/25/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/25/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/25/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/25/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/25/2024 11.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/25/2024 <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 Ipswich Dpu 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 MA3144000 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 Ipswich Dpu 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 Nitrite MR 1 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 1041
2020 Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 5000
2016 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 7000
2007 Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 3100
2007 Methoxychlor MR 2 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 2015
2007 BHC-GAMMA MR 2 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 2010
2007 2,4,5-TP MR 2 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 2110
2007 Toxaphene MR 2 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 2020
2007 Endrin MR 2 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 2005
2007 2,4-D MR 2 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 2105
2007 Heptachlor epoxide MR 1 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 2067
2007 Heptachlor MR 1 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 2065
2007 Pentachlorophenol MR 1 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 2326
2007 Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 1 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 2383
2007 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 1 SDWIS / MA3144000 / 2931

How Ipswich Dpu Water Dept Compares

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

Metric Ipswich Dpu Water Dept Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 75 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 10 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 6 compounds 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 13,090 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 Ipswich Dpu Water Dept water safe to drink?
Ipswich Dpu Water Dept (PWS ID: MA3144000) has 75 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 6 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 13,090 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Ipswich Dpu Water Dept serve?
Ipswich Dpu Water Dept serves 13,090 people in Ipswich, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 4,863 service connections.
What type of violations does Ipswich Dpu Water Dept have?
Ipswich Dpu Water Dept has 75 total violations: 10 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 38 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Ipswich Dpu Water Dept water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds in Ipswich Dpu Water Dept's water supply: PFOA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFBA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Ipswich Dpu Water Dept use?
Ipswich Dpu 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.