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Community Water System · PWS MA3315000

Wayland Water Department

Wayland, Massachusetts 01778 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 13,196 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

13,196
People served
101
EPA violations
15
Health-based
6 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 101 drinking-water violations at Wayland Water Department, 15% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds.

101
Total EPA violations on record
15%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
13,196
People served by this system
6
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Wayland Water Department

Wayland Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 13,196 residents in Wayland, Massachusetts (Middlesex County) through 5,188 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 101 total violations for this system , of which 15 (15%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 70 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2022.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 13 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 10 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%).

Wayland Water Department's 101 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
13,196
Total Violations
101
Health-Based Violations
15
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
5,188
County
Middlesex
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
13
Monitoring Violations
70
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 13 2012
Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 2022
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 3 2001
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 3 2001
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2001
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2001
Vinyl chloride MR 3 2001
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 3 2001
Carbon tetrachloride MR 3 2001
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 3 2001
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 3 2001
CHLOROBENZENE MR 3 2001
Benzene MR 3 2001
Toluene MR 3 2001
Ethylbenzene MR 3 2001
Styrene MR 3 2001
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2001
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2001
Trichloroethylene MR 3 2001
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 3 2001
Xylenes, Total MR 3 2001
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2001
Tetrachloroethylene MR 3 2001
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2009
Lead and Copper Rule TT 2 1997
Asbestos MR 1 1995

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 12 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

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

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 MA3315000 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 Wayland Water Department 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
2022 Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 5000
2012 Coliform (TCR) MCL 13 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 3100
2009 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 7000
2001 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2378
2001 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2964
2001 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2968
2001 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2969
2001 Vinyl chloride MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2976
2001 1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2981
2001 Carbon tetrachloride MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2982
2001 1,2-Dichloropropane MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2983
2001 1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2985
2001 CHLOROBENZENE MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2989
2001 Benzene MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2990
2001 Toluene MR 3 SDWIS / MA3315000 / 2991

How Wayland Water Department Compares

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

Metric Wayland Water Department Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 101 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 15 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 13,196 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 Wayland Water Department water safe to drink? ▼
Wayland Water Department (PWS ID: MA3315000) has 101 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 6 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 13,196 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Wayland Water Department serve? ▼
Wayland Water Department serves 13,196 people in Wayland, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 5,188 service connections.
What type of violations does Wayland Water Department have? ▼
Wayland Water Department has 101 total violations: 15 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 70 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Wayland Water Department water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds in Wayland Water Department's water supply: PFPeA, PFOS, PFOA, PFHxA, PFHpA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Wayland Water Department use? ▼
Wayland Water Department uses Groundwater 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.