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Community Water System · PWS MA3149000

Lawrence Water Works

Lawrence, Massachusetts 01841 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 88,877 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

88,877
People served
296
EPA violations
3
Health-based
2 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 296 drinking-water violations at Lawrence Water Works, 1% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds.

296
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
88,877
People served by this system
2
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Lawrence Water Works

Lawrence Water Works is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 88,877 residents in Lawrence, Massachusetts (Essex County) through 12,754 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 296 total violations for this system , of which 3 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 268 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2020.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is BHC-GAMMA, recorded in 6 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 2 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 3.1 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%).

Lawrence Water Works's 296 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

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

Population Served
88,877
Total Violations
296
Health-Based Violations
3
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
12,754
County
Essex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
268
Treatment Tech Violations
3

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
BHC-GAMMA MR 6 2013
Methoxychlor MR 6 2013
Toxaphene MR 6 2013
2,4,5-TP MR 6 2013
2,4-D MR 6 2013
Endrin MR 6 2013
Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 2020
Dalapon MR 5 2013
Diquat MR 5 2013
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 5 2013
OXAMYL MR 5 2013
Picloram MR 5 2013
Carbofuran MR 5 2013
Atrazine MR 5 2013
LASSO MR 5 2013
Heptachlor epoxide MR 5 2013
Pentachlorophenol MR 5 2013
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 5 2013
Chlordane MR 5 2013
Heptachlor MR 5 2013
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 5 2013
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 5 2013
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 5 2013
Dinoseb MR 5 2013
Glyphosate MR 5 2013
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 5 2013
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 5 2013
Simazine MR 5 2013
2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 5 2013
Endothall MR 5 2013

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 2 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFBA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/9/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/9/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/9/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/9/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/9/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/9/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 5/6/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 5/6/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/6/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 5/6/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 4/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 4/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 4/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 4/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 4/29/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 4/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 4/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 4/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 4/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/29/2024 <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 Lawrence Water Works.

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 MA3149000 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 Lawrence Water Works 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
2020 Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 5000
2019 CARBON, TOTAL MR 4 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2920
2016 Lead and Copper Rule TT 1 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 5000
2013 BHC-GAMMA MR 6 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2010
2013 Methoxychlor MR 6 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2015
2013 Toxaphene MR 6 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2020
2013 2,4,5-TP MR 6 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2110
2013 2,4-D MR 6 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2105
2013 Endrin MR 6 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2005
2013 Dalapon MR 5 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2031
2013 Diquat MR 5 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2032
2013 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 5 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2035
2013 OXAMYL MR 5 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2036
2013 Picloram MR 5 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2040
2013 Carbofuran MR 5 SDWIS / MA3149000 / 2046

How Lawrence Water Works Compares

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

Metric Lawrence Water Works Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 296 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 3 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 2 compounds 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 88,877 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 Lawrence Water Works water safe to drink? ▼
Lawrence Water Works (PWS ID: MA3149000) has 296 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 88,877 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Lawrence Water Works serve? ▼
Lawrence Water Works serves 88,877 people in Lawrence, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 12,754 service connections.
What type of violations does Lawrence Water Works have? ▼
Lawrence Water Works has 296 total violations: 3 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 268 monitoring/reporting violations, and 3 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Lawrence Water Works water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in Lawrence Water Works's water supply: PFHxA, PFPeA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Lawrence Water Works use? ▼
Lawrence Water Works 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.