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Community Water System · PWS MA4122000

Hanover Water Dept

Hanover, Massachusetts 02339 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 14,984 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

14,984
People served
51
EPA violations
15
Health-based
7 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 51 drinking-water violations at Hanover Water Dept, 29% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds.

51
Total EPA violations on record
29%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
14,984
People served by this system
7
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Hanover Water Dept

Hanover Water Dept is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 14,984 residents in Hanover, Massachusetts (Plymouth County) through 5,165 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 51 total violations for this system , of which 15 (29%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 30 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 9 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 7 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 11.6 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%).

Hanover Water Dept's 51 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

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

Population Served
14,984
Total Violations
51
Health-Based Violations
15
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
5,165
County
Plymouth
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
15
Monitoring Violations
30
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 9 2020
Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 2011
Fluoride MR 2 2025
Mercury MR 2 2025
Selenium MR 2 2025
Barium MR 2 2025
Chromium MR 2 2025
Beryllium, Total MR 2 2025
Nickel MR 2 2025
Thallium, Total MR 2 2025
CYANIDE MR 2 2025
Tetrachloroethylene MR 2 2024
Arsenic MR 2 2025
Cadmium MR 2 2025
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2010
Antimony, Total MR 2 2025
Coliform (TCR) MR 2 2015
Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 2000

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 19 of 174 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFPeS 8/22/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/22/2023 6.60 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 8/22/2023 3.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/22/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/22/2023 11.40 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOA 8/22/2023 8.90 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/22/2023 8.60 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 8/22/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/22/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/22/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/22/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/22/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/22/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/22/2023 8.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFEESA 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/22/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/22/2023 11.60 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
4:2 FTS 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/22/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/22/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/22/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/22/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/22/2023 4.30 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 8/22/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/22/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/22/2023 <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 Hanover 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 MA4122000 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 Hanover 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
2025 Fluoride MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1025
2025 Mercury MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1035
2025 Selenium MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1045
2025 Barium MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1010
2025 Chromium MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1020
2025 Beryllium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1075
2025 Nickel MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1036
2025 Thallium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1085
2025 CYANIDE MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1024
2025 Arsenic MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1005
2025 Cadmium MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1015
2025 Antimony, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 1074
2024 Tetrachloroethylene MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 2987
2020 TTHM MCL 9 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 2950
2015 Coliform (TCR) MR 2 SDWIS / MA4122000 / 3100

How Hanover Water Dept Compares

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

Metric Hanover Water Dept Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 51 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 7 compounds 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 14,984 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 Hanover Water Dept water safe to drink?
Hanover Water Dept (PWS ID: MA4122000) has 51 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 7 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 14,984 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Hanover Water Dept serve?
Hanover Water Dept serves 14,984 people in Hanover, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 5,165 service connections.
What type of violations does Hanover Water Dept have?
Hanover Water Dept has 51 total violations: 15 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 30 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Hanover Water Dept water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds in Hanover Water Dept's water supply: PFBS, PFHpA, PFOS, PFOA, PFHxA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Hanover Water Dept use?
Hanover 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.