PlainWater

Community Water System · PWS MA3163000

Lynn Water and Sewer Comm

Lynn, Massachusetts 01905 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 101,253 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

101,253
People served
39
EPA violations
20
Health-based
5 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 39 drinking-water violations at Lynn Water and Sewer Comm, 51% of them health-based - below the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.

39
Total EPA violations on record
51%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
101,253
People served by this system
5
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Lynn Water and Sewer Comm

Lynn Water and Sewer Comm is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 101,253 residents in Lynn, Massachusetts (Essex County) through 21,169 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 39 total violations for this system , of which 20 (51%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 1 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 1996.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 20 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 5.4 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%).

Lynn Water and Sewer Comm's 39 violations sit below 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

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

Population Served
101,253
Total Violations
39
Health-Based Violations
20
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
21,169
County
Essex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
20
Monitoring Violations
1
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 20 1988
Coliform (TCR) MR 1 1996

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 14 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFBS 8/2/2023 3.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 8/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/2/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/2/2023 4.30 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 8/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/2/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/2/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/2/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/2/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/2/2023 4.90 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFPeS 8/2/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/2/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/2/2023 5.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMPA 8/2/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/2/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/2/2023 5.30 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFOS 8/2/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/2/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/2/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/2/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/2/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/2/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/3/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/3/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/3/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 5/3/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/3/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/3/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/3/2023 4.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDA 5/3/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/3/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/3/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/3/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/3/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/3/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/3/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/3/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/3/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/3/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 5/3/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 5/3/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/3/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/3/2023 <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 Lynn Water and Sewer Comm.

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 MA3163000 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 Lynn Water and Sewer Comm 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
1996 Coliform (TCR) MR 1 SDWIS / MA3163000 / 3100
1988 TTHM MCL 20 SDWIS / MA3163000 / 2950

How Lynn Water and Sewer Comm Compares

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

Metric Lynn Water and Sewer Comm Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 39 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 20 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 5 compounds 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 101,253 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 Lynn Water and Sewer Comm water safe to drink?
Lynn Water and Sewer Comm (PWS ID: MA3163000) has 39 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 101,253 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Lynn Water and Sewer Comm serve?
Lynn Water and Sewer Comm serves 101,253 people in Lynn, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 21,169 service connections.
What type of violations does Lynn Water and Sewer Comm have?
Lynn Water and Sewer Comm has 39 total violations: 20 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 1 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Lynn Water and Sewer Comm water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Lynn Water and Sewer Comm's water supply: PFBS, PFOA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Lynn Water and Sewer Comm use?
Lynn Water and Sewer Comm 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.