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Community Water System · PWS MA4095000

Fall River Water Department

Fall River, Massachusetts 02723 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 94,000 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

94,000
People served
87
EPA violations
17
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 87 drinking-water violations at Fall River Water Department, 20% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average.

87
Total EPA violations on record
20%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
94,000
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Fall River Water Department

Fall River Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 94,000 residents in Fall River, Massachusetts (Bristol County) through 22,125 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 87 total violations for this system , of which 17 (20%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 40 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2021.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 11 violations (MCL, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

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%).

Fall River Water Department's 87 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.

Population Served
94,000
Total Violations
87
Health-Based Violations
17
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
22,125
County
Bristol
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
13
Monitoring Violations
40
Treatment Tech Violations
4

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 11 2008
Coliform (TCR) Other 8 2005
Coliform (TCR) MR 7 2010
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2008
Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 2010
Lead and Copper Rule TT 3 1993
TTHM MCL 2 2013
CARBON, TOTAL TT 1 2007
LASSO MR 1 2021
Atrazine MR 1 2021
Carbofuran MR 1 2021
Endrin MR 1 2021
Pentachlorophenol MR 1 2021
Toxaphene MR 1 2021
BHC-GAMMA MR 1 2021
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 1 2021
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 1 2021
Dalapon MR 1 2021
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 1 2021
Endothall MR 1 2021
Glyphosate MR 1 2021
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 1 2021
2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 1 2021
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 1 2021
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 1 2021
Diquat MR 1 2021
Simazine MR 1 2021
OXAMYL MR 1 2021
2,4-D MR 1 2021
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 1 2021

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFPeS 7/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/29/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/29/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/29/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/29/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/29/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/29/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/4/2024 <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 Fall River 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 MA4095000 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 Fall River 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
2021 LASSO MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2051
2021 Atrazine MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2050
2021 Carbofuran MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2046
2021 Endrin MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2005
2021 Pentachlorophenol MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2326
2021 Toxaphene MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2020
2021 BHC-GAMMA MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2010
2021 Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2383
2021 Benzo(a)pyrene MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2306
2021 Dalapon MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2031
2021 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2035
2021 Endothall MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2033
2021 Glyphosate MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2034
2021 HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2274
2021 2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 1 SDWIS / MA4095000 / 2063

How Fall River Water Department Compares

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

Metric Fall River Water Department Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 87 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 17 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 94,000 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 Fall River Water Department water safe to drink?
Fall River Water Department (PWS ID: MA4095000) has 87 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 94,000 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Fall River Water Department serve?
Fall River Water Department serves 94,000 people in Fall River, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 22,125 service connections.
What type of violations does Fall River Water Department have?
Fall River Water Department has 87 total violations: 17 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 40 monitoring/reporting violations, and 4 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Fall River Water Department water?
No. Fall River Water Department was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Fall River Water Department use?
Fall River Water Department 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.