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Community Water System · PWS MA4040000

Braintree Water and Sewer Dept.

Braintree, Massachusetts 02184 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 39,143 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

39,143
People served
98
EPA violations
1
Health-based
5 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 98 drinking-water violations at Braintree Water and Sewer Dept., 1% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.

98
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
39,143
People served by this system
5
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Braintree Water and Sewer Dept.

Braintree Water and Sewer Dept. is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 39,143 residents in Braintree, Massachusetts (Norfolk County) through 12,167 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 98 total violations for this system , of which 1 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 73 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 Consumer Confidence Rule, recorded in 6 violations (Other). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 8.5 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%).

Braintree Water and Sewer Dept.'s 98 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

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

Population Served
39,143
Total Violations
98
Health-Based Violations
1
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
12,167
County
Norfolk
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
1
Monitoring Violations
73
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 6 2022
Xylenes, Total MR 3 2006
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2006
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2006
Vinyl chloride MR 3 2006
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2006
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2006
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 3 2006
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 3 2006
Trichloroethylene MR 3 2006
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 3 2006
Toluene MR 3 2006
Styrene MR 3 2006
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2006
Ethylbenzene MR 3 2006
Benzene MR 3 2006
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 3 2006
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 3 2006
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 3 2006
CHLOROBENZENE MR 3 2006
Carbon tetrachloride MR 3 2006
Tetrachloroethylene MR 3 2006
Nitrate MR 2 2006
Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 2013
Coliform (TCR) MCL 1 2000
Radium-228 MR 1 1998
Tritium MR 1 1998
Coliform (TCR) MR 1 1996
Radium-226 MR 1 1998
38-STRONTIUM-90 MR 1 1998

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 17 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFUnA 9/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/26/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/26/2023 5.30 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFHxA 9/26/2023 4.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/26/2023 5.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFBS 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/26/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/26/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/26/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/26/2023 8.50 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/26/2023 4.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/26/2023 4.80 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOS 6/26/2023 7.50 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/26/2023 3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFBA 6/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/26/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/26/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/26/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/26/2023 <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 Braintree Water and Sewer 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 MA4040000 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 Braintree Water and Sewer 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
2022 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 6 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 7000
2013 Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 5000
2006 Xylenes, Total MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2955
2006 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2968
2006 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2969
2006 Vinyl chloride MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2976
2006 1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2977
2006 trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2979
2006 1,2-Dichloroethane MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2980
2006 1,2-Dichloropropane MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2983
2006 Trichloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2984
2006 1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2985
2006 Toluene MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2991
2006 Styrene MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2996
2006 cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / MA4040000 / 2380

How Braintree Water and Sewer Dept. Compares

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

Metric Braintree Water and Sewer Dept. Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 98 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 1 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 39,143 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 Braintree Water and Sewer Dept. water safe to drink? ▼
Braintree Water and Sewer Dept. (PWS ID: MA4040000) has 98 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 39,143 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Braintree Water and Sewer Dept. serve? ▼
Braintree Water and Sewer Dept. serves 39,143 people in Braintree, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 12,167 service connections.
What type of violations does Braintree Water and Sewer Dept. have? ▼
Braintree Water and Sewer Dept. has 98 total violations: 1 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 73 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Braintree Water and Sewer Dept. water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Braintree Water and Sewer Dept.'s water supply: PFOA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFOS, PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Braintree Water and Sewer Dept. use? ▼
Braintree Water and Sewer 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.

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.