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Community Water System · PWS MA4016000

Attleboro Water Dept

Attleboro, Massachusetts 02703 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 46,654 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

46,654
People served
38
EPA violations
4
Health-based
5 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 38 drinking-water violations at Attleboro Water Dept, 11% of them health-based - below the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.

38
Total EPA violations on record
11%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
46,654
People served by this system
5
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Attleboro Water Dept

Attleboro Water Dept is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 46,654 residents in Attleboro, Massachusetts (Bristol County) through 14,729 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 38 total violations for this system , of which 4 (11%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 12 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2018.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 2 violations (TT, 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 12 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%).

Attleboro Water Dept's 38 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
46,654
Total Violations
38
Health-Based Violations
4
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
14,729
County
Bristol
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
2
Monitoring Violations
12
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 1992
Beryllium, Total MR 1 2006
Thallium, Total MR 1 2006
TTHM MCL 1 2018
Arsenic MR 1 2006
Selenium MR 1 2006
Cadmium MR 1 2006
Antimony, Total MR 1 2006
Fluoride MR 1 2006
CYANIDE MR 1 2006
Chromium MR 1 2006
Nickel MR 1 2006
Coliform (TCR) MCL 1 1992
Barium MR 1 2006
Mercury 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
8:2 FTS 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/9/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/9/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/9/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/9/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/9/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/9/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/9/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/9/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/9/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/9/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/9/2024 3.80 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/9/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/9/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/9/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/15/2024 3.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/15/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/15/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/15/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/15/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/15/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/15/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/15/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/15/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/15/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/15/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/15/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/15/2024 <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 Attleboro 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 MA4016000 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 Attleboro 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
2018 TTHM MCL 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 2950
2006 Beryllium, Total MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1075
2006 Thallium, Total MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1085
2006 Arsenic MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1005
2006 Selenium MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1045
2006 Cadmium MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1015
2006 Antimony, Total MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1074
2006 Fluoride MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1025
2006 CYANIDE MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1024
2006 Chromium MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1020
2006 Nickel MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1036
2006 Barium MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1010
2006 Mercury MR 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 1035
1992 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 0200
1992 Coliform (TCR) MCL 1 SDWIS / MA4016000 / 3100

How Attleboro Water Dept Compares

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

Metric Attleboro Water Dept Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 38 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 4 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 46,654 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 Attleboro Water Dept water safe to drink?
Attleboro Water Dept (PWS ID: MA4016000) has 38 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 46,654 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Attleboro Water Dept serve?
Attleboro Water Dept serves 46,654 people in Attleboro, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 14,729 service connections.
What type of violations does Attleboro Water Dept have?
Attleboro Water Dept has 38 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 12 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Attleboro Water Dept water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Attleboro Water Dept's water supply: PFHxS, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFOS, PFOA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Attleboro Water Dept use?
Attleboro 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.