PlainWater
States → Massachusetts

Community Water System · PWS MA4307000

Walpole Water Dept

Walpole, Massachusetts 02081 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 24,070 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

24,070
People served
67
EPA violations
8
Health-based
6 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 67 drinking-water violations at Walpole Water Dept, 12% of them health-based - above the Massachusetts per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds.

67
Total EPA violations on record
12%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
24,070
People served by this system
6
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Walpole Water Dept

Walpole Water Dept is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 24,070 residents in Walpole, Massachusetts (Norfolk County) through 8,307 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 67 total violations for this system , of which 8 (12%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 48 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2013.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 7 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 6 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 16 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%).

Walpole Water Dept's 67 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

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

Population Served
24,070
Total Violations
67
Health-Based Violations
8
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
8,307
County
Norfolk
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
7
Monitoring Violations
48
Treatment Tech Violations
1

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 7 2013
Fluoride MR 2 2013
Arsenic MR 2 2013
Mercury MR 2 2013
Barium MR 2 2013
Cadmium MR 2 2013
Antimony, Total MR 2 2013
Thallium, Total MR 2 2013
Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 1998
Selenium MR 2 2013
Chromium MR 2 2013
Beryllium, Total MR 2 2013
Nickel MR 2 2013
CYANIDE MR 2 2013
Nitrate MR 1 1998
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 1 1998
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 1 1998
Xylenes, Total MR 1 1998
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 1 1998
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 1 1998
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 1 1998
Vinyl chloride MR 1 1998
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 1 1998
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 1 1998
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 1 1998
Trichloroethylene MR 1 1998
Tetrachloroethylene MR 1 1998
CHLOROBENZENE MR 1 1998
Benzene MR 1 1998
Ethylbenzene MR 1 1998

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 14 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFEESA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/14/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/14/2023 13.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
4:2 FTS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/14/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/14/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/14/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/14/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/14/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/14/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/14/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/14/2023 7.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/14/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/14/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/14/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/14/2023 4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOA 8/14/2023 4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 8/14/2023 3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
HFPO-DA 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/14/2023 <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 Walpole 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 MA4307000 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 Walpole 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
2013 Coliform (TCR) MCL 7 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 3100
2013 Fluoride MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1025
2013 Arsenic MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1005
2013 Mercury MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1035
2013 Barium MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1010
2013 Cadmium MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1015
2013 Antimony, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1074
2013 Thallium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1085
2013 Selenium MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1045
2013 Chromium MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1020
2013 Beryllium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1075
2013 Nickel MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1036
2013 CYANIDE MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1024
1998 Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 5000
1998 Nitrate MR 1 SDWIS / MA4307000 / 1040

How Walpole Water Dept Compares

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

Metric Walpole Water Dept Massachusetts avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 67 46.2 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 8 4.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 6 compounds 56.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 24,070 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 Walpole Water Dept water safe to drink? ▼
Walpole Water Dept (PWS ID: MA4307000) has 67 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 6 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 24,070 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Walpole Water Dept serve? ▼
Walpole Water Dept serves 24,070 people in Walpole, Massachusetts. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 8,307 service connections.
What type of violations does Walpole Water Dept have? ▼
Walpole Water Dept has 67 total violations: 8 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 48 monitoring/reporting violations, and 1 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Walpole Water Dept water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds in Walpole Water Dept's water supply: PFBA, PFHxA, PFOS, PFOA, PFHpA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Walpole Water Dept use? ▼
Walpole Water Dept uses Groundwater 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.