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Community Water System · PWS MA3160000

Lowell Regional Water Utility

Lowell, Massachusetts 01854 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 115,000 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

115,000
People served
54
EPA violations
13
Health-based
3 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 54 drinking-water violations at Lowell Regional Water Utility, 24% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds.

54
Total EPA violations on record
24%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
115,000
People served by this system
3
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Lowell Regional Water Utility

Lowell Regional Water Utility is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 115,000 residents in Lowell, Massachusetts (Middlesex County) through 25,956 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 54 total violations for this system , of which 13 (24%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 36 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 Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 13 violations (TT, 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 4.6 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%).

Lowell Regional Water Utility's 54 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
115,000
Total Violations
54
Health-Based Violations
13
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
25,956
County
Middlesex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
36
Treatment Tech Violations
13

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Lead and Copper Rule TT 13 2017
Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 2023
Endrin MR 1 2000
Methoxychlor MR 1 2000
Dalapon MR 1 2000
Diquat MR 1 2000
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 1 2000
Simazine MR 1 2000
Picloram MR 1 2000
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 1 2000
Carbofuran MR 1 2000
Atrazine MR 1 2000
LASSO MR 1 2000
2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 1 2000
Heptachlor MR 1 2000
Heptachlor epoxide MR 1 2000
2,4-D MR 1 2000
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 1 2000
Pentachlorophenol MR 1 2000
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 1 2000
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 1 2000
Chlordane MR 1 2000
Endothall MR 1 2000
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 1 2000
OXAMYL MR 1 2000
Aldicarb sulfoxide MR 1 2000
2,4,5-TP MR 1 2000
Glyphosate MR 1 2000
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 1 2000
Dinoseb MR 1 2000

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 3 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFNA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/18/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/18/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/18/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/18/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/18/2023 3.90 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMPA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/18/2023 4.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/18/2023 4.60 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOS 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/21/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/21/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/21/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/21/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/21/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/21/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/21/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/21/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/21/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/21/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/21/2023 <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 Lowell Regional Water Utility.

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 MA3160000 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 Lowell Regional Water Utility 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 Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 5000
2017 Lead and Copper Rule TT 13 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 5000
2000 Endrin MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2005
2000 Methoxychlor MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2015
2000 Dalapon MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2031
2000 Diquat MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2032
2000 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2035
2000 Simazine MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2037
2000 Picloram MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2040
2000 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2042
2000 Carbofuran MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2046
2000 Atrazine MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2050
2000 LASSO MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2051
2000 2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2063
2000 Heptachlor MR 1 SDWIS / MA3160000 / 2065

How Lowell Regional Water Utility Compares

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

Metric Lowell Regional Water Utility Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 54 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 13 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 115,000 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 Lowell Regional Water Utility water safe to drink? ▼
Lowell Regional Water Utility (PWS ID: MA3160000) has 54 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 3 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 115,000 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Lowell Regional Water Utility serve? ▼
Lowell Regional Water Utility serves 115,000 people in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 25,956 service connections.
What type of violations does Lowell Regional Water Utility have? ▼
Lowell Regional Water Utility has 54 total violations: 13 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 36 monitoring/reporting violations, and 13 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Lowell Regional Water Utility water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds in Lowell Regional Water Utility's water supply: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFOA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Lowell Regional Water Utility use? ▼
Lowell Regional Water Utility 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.