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Community Water System · PWS MA3157000

Lincoln Water Dept

Lincoln, Massachusetts 01773 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 5,593 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

5,593
People served
90
EPA violations
11
Health-based
3 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 90 drinking-water violations at Lincoln Water Dept, 12% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds.

90
Total EPA violations on record
12%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
5,593
People served by this system
3
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Lincoln Water Dept

Lincoln Water Dept is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 5,593 residents in Lincoln, Massachusetts (Middlesex County) through 1,874 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 90 total violations for this system , of which 11 (12%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 65 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2017.

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, 3 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 6.4 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%).

Lincoln Water Dept's 90 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

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

Population Served
5,593
Total Violations
90
Health-Based Violations
11
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,874
County
Middlesex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
9
Monitoring Violations
65
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 7 2013
Coliform (TCR) MR 5 2013
Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 2006
TTHM MCL 2 2017
Fluoride MR 2 2011
Arsenic MR 2 2011
Selenium MR 2 2011
Chromium MR 2 2011
Beryllium, Total MR 2 2011
Nickel MR 2 2011
Thallium, Total MR 2 2011
Lead and Copper Rule TT 2 1993
Cadmium MR 2 2011
Antimony, Total MR 2 2011
Barium MR 2 2011
CYANIDE MR 2 2011
Mercury MR 2 2011
2,4-D MR 1 2006
Endrin MR 1 2006
Heptachlor epoxide MR 1 2006
Heptachlor MR 1 2006
Toxaphene MR 1 2006
Methoxychlor MR 1 2006
BHC-GAMMA MR 1 2006
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 1 2006
Dinoseb MR 1 2006
Endothall MR 1 2006
Glyphosate MR 1 2006
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 1 2006
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 1 2006

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 9 of 203 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFBA 8/12/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/12/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/12/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/12/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/12/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/12/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/12/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/12/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/12/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/12/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/12/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/12/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/12/2025 6.40 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOS 8/12/2025 5.40 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 8/12/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/12/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/12/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/12/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/12/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/12/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/12/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/12/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/12/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/12/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/12/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/12/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/12/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/12/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/12/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/12/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/12/2025 <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 Lincoln 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 MA3157000 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 Lincoln 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
2017 TTHM MCL 2 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 2950
2014 Asbestos MR 1 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 1094
2013 Coliform (TCR) MCL 7 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 3100
2013 Coliform (TCR) MR 5 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 3100
2013 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 1 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 7000
2011 Fluoride MR 2 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 1025
2011 Arsenic MR 2 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 1005
2011 Selenium MR 2 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 1045
2011 Chromium MR 2 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 1020
2011 Beryllium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 1075
2011 Nickel MR 2 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 1036
2011 Thallium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 1085
2011 Cadmium MR 2 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 1015
2011 Antimony, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 1074
2011 Barium MR 2 SDWIS / MA3157000 / 1010

How Lincoln Water Dept Compares

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

Metric Lincoln Water Dept Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 90 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 11 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 3 compounds 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 5,593 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 Lincoln Water Dept water safe to drink?
Lincoln Water Dept (PWS ID: MA3157000) has 90 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 3 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 5,593 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Lincoln Water Dept serve?
Lincoln Water Dept serves 5,593 people in Lincoln, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 1,874 service connections.
What type of violations does Lincoln Water Dept have?
Lincoln Water Dept has 90 total violations: 11 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 65 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Lincoln Water Dept water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds in Lincoln Water Dept's water supply: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Lincoln Water Dept use?
Lincoln 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.