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Community Water System · PWS MA4238000

Plainville Water Department

Plainville, Massachusetts 02762 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 8,805 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

8,805
People served
62
EPA violations
10
Health-based
4 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 62 drinking-water violations at Plainville Water Department, 16% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds.

62
Total EPA violations on record
16%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
8,805
People served by this system
4
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Plainville Water Department

Plainville Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 8,805 residents in Plainville, Massachusetts (Norfolk County) through 2,562 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 62 total violations for this system , of which 10 (16%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 19 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 Consumer Confidence Rule, recorded in 7 violations (Other). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 4 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 17.6 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%).

Plainville Water Department's 62 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

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

Population Served
8,805
Total Violations
62
Health-Based Violations
10
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
2,562
County
Norfolk
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
9
Monitoring Violations
19
Treatment Tech Violations
1

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 7 2017
TTHM MCL 4 2018
Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 2000
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 3 2018
Coliform (TCR) MR 2 2001
Coliform (TCR) MCL 2 2010
Arsenic MR 1 1994
Cadmium MR 1 1994
Chromium MR 1 1994
Mercury MR 1 1994
Nickel MR 1 1994
Nitrate MR 1 1994
Selenium MR 1 1994
Antimony, Total MR 1 1994
Thallium, Total MR 1 1994
Fluoride MR 1 1994
CYANIDE MR 1 1994
Beryllium, Total MR 1 1994
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 1 2018
Barium MR 1 1994

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 14 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NEtFOSAA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/9/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/9/2023 3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFTrDA 8/9/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/9/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/9/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/9/2023 5.10 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/9/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/9/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/9/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/9/2023 17.60 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/9/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/9/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/9/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/9/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 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 Plainville 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 MA4238000 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 Plainville 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
2018 TTHM MCL 4 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 2950
2018 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 3 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 2456
2018 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 1 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 0200
2017 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 7 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 7000
2010 Coliform (TCR) MCL 2 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 3100
2001 Coliform (TCR) MR 2 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 3100
2000 Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 5000
1994 Arsenic MR 1 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 1005
1994 Cadmium MR 1 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 1015
1994 Chromium MR 1 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 1020
1994 Mercury MR 1 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 1035
1994 Nickel MR 1 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 1036
1994 Nitrate MR 1 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 1040
1994 Selenium MR 1 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 1045
1994 Antimony, Total MR 1 SDWIS / MA4238000 / 1074

How Plainville Water Department Compares

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

Metric Plainville Water Department Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 62 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 10 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 4 compounds 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 8,805 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 Plainville Water Department water safe to drink? ▼
Plainville Water Department (PWS ID: MA4238000) has 62 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 4 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 8,805 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Plainville Water Department serve? ▼
Plainville Water Department serves 8,805 people in Plainville, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,562 service connections.
What type of violations does Plainville Water Department have? ▼
Plainville Water Department has 62 total violations: 10 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 19 monitoring/reporting violations, and 1 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Plainville Water Department water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds in Plainville Water Department's water supply: PFBS, PFOS, PFOA, PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Plainville Water Department use? ▼
Plainville 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.

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.