Is Ponce Urbano water safe to drink?

Ponce Urbano (PWS ID: PR0003824) has 2210 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 8 PFAS compounds found. EPA SDWIS lists this system's service population as 111,926 people using Surface Water sources.

How many people does Ponce Urbano serve?

EPA SDWIS reports that Ponce Urbano serves 111,926 people (this public water system's service population, not the municipal population of Ponce or any other city). It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 41,920 service connections. The operator address is listed in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

What type of violations does Ponce Urbano have?

Ponce Urbano has 2,210 total violations: 263 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 1,920 monitoring/reporting violations, and 175 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in Ponce Urbano water?

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 8 PFAS compounds in Ponce Urbano's water supply: PFOS, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFPeA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

What water source does Ponce Urbano use?

Ponce Urbano 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.

Where does Ponce Urbano sit among U.S. public water systems?

According to EPA SDWIS population_served among sitemap-advertised systems (serving 500+), Ponce Urbano ranks #424 of 29,740 by people served, and #4 of 235 in Puerto Rico. Ordinals use population_served DESC among systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). See /methodology#corpus-placement.

How does Ponce Urbano's violation count compare nationally?

Ponce Urbano has 2,210 recorded EPA SDWIS violations, fewer than 0% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500 or more people nationwide (the same sitemap cohort used for the corpus-placement ranking above). 100% of that cohort has fewer violations than Ponce Urbano. A system can have zero recorded violations and still be actively monitored, and a high violation count often reflects a system that reports thoroughly, not necessarily one with worse water.

States → Puerto Rico

Community Water System · PWS PR0003824

Ponce Urbano

Operator location Ponce, Puerto Rico - UCMR5 detected 8 PFAS compounds (upper-third PFAS panel (> 4 compounds)) on this PWS; SDWIS lists 2,210 violations and 111,926 people served.

Compiled by PlainWater · May 15, 2026

111,926
People served (this PWS) Larger third of systems: 2,210
EPA violations (this PWS) Upper third of systems: 263
Health-based (this PWS) Middle third by health-based share: 8 PFAS
UCMR5 (this PWS) Upper third of PFAS-detected systems

Follow published updates (RSS)

Ponce Urbano standing, high SDWIS violation third

UCMR5 detected 8 PFAS compounds - upper-third PFAS panel (> 4 compounds). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 12% is middle-third health share (≤ 23%). UCMR5: upper-third PFAS panel (> 4 compounds). Population rank #424 of 29,740 among systems serving 500+.

The verdict

Ponce Urbano sits in the upper third of the sitemap cohort by violation count (2,210), so the tables below sample a dense compliance trail rather than a near-clean ledger. Population served is large (111,926; larger served population (> 3,309)), so household exposure scale sits behind the violation mix. Health-based share is 12% (middle-third health share (≤ 23%)). UCMR5 detected 8 PFAS compounds (upper-third PFAS panel (> 4 compounds)).

#424 of 29,740
Population · /systems: #4 of 235
Population · PR: 2,210
Total EPA violations on record: 12%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)

Population ordinals match the sitemap cohort (systems serving 500+, population_served DESC). See methodology · corpus placement.

PFAS Detected

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

Water Safety Score

3/100

Ponce Urbano

Based on EPA SDWIS violation history and UCMR5 PFAS testing only, not water taste, odor, infrastructure age, or contaminants outside the federally tracked set.

Health-based violations F

263

EPA SDWIS health-based violations on record (MCL, MRDL, treatment technique)

Monitoring & reporting violations F

1,947

Non-health SDWIS violations (monitoring, reporting, and other compliance)

PFAS contamination F

0.0256 µg/L

Highest PFAS compound level detected in UCMR5 testing

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 41,920
County: Penuelas Municipio
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 88
Monitoring Violations: 1,920
Treatment Tech Violations: 175

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
CARBON, TOTAL	TT	111	2019
Xylenes, Total	MR	69	2019
o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	69	2019
p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	69	2019
Vinyl chloride	MR	69	2019
1,2-Dichloroethane	MR	69	2019
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	MR	69	2019
Carbon tetrachloride	MR	69	2019
Trichloroethylene	MR	69	2019
CHLOROBENZENE	MR	69	2019
Benzene	MR	69	2019
Toluene	MR	69	2019
Ethylbenzene	MR	69	2019
Styrene	MR	69	2019
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	MR	69	2019
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	69	2019
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	69	2019
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	MR	69	2019
Tetrachloroethylene	MR	69	2019
DICHLOROMETHANE	MR	69	2019
1,2-Dichloropropane	MR	69	2019
1,1-Dichloroethylene	MR	69	2019
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	TT	57	2024
Mercury	MR	53	2022
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MCL	40	2019
E. COLI	MR	40	2017
Cryptosporidium	MR	34	2017
Turbidity	MR	34	2017
TTHM	MCL	33	2019
Nitrate	MR	27	2024

Violation Count vs. the National Corpus

Ponce Urbano has 2,210 recorded EPA violations, 100% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 0% carry more. 12% of this system's own violations are health-based (263 of 2,210), and it ranks #424 of 29,740 by population served among that same cohort.

EPA violations vs. the national water-system corpus

Public water systems serving 500+ people (EPA SDWIS)

2,210 Higher than most more violations than 99%+ of 29,740 water systems

the national water-system corpus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more water systems. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source EPA SDWIS · 2026-05-15

How many violations vs. how serious, among peer systems

Ponce Urbano plotted against 29 peer public water systems (500+ people served), by total violation count (x) and the share of those violations that are health-based (y). The crosshair sits at this sample's own median on each axis. A high violation count does not automatically mean a serious record: most monitoring and reporting violations are minor, not health-based.

30 public water systems (500+ people served), EPA SDWIS current release.

How to read this

Each dot is one public water system; the highlighted dot is Ponce Urbano. A system to the right has more recorded violations; a system higher up has a larger share of those violations classified health-based rather than monitoring or reporting.

Rare but serious: few violations, but most of them are health-based.
Frequent, mostly paperwork: many violations, but mostly monitoring or reporting, not health-based.
Clean record: below-median on both counts, the tinted corner.

View all 30 systems as a list

City of Ballinger: 372 violations, 85% health-based
Nooksack Valley Water Association: 16 violations, 31% health-based
Montgomery Co RWD 12: 7 violations, 29% health-based
Irvin Water District #6: 11 violations, 27% health-based
Ticonderoga WD: 47 violations, 26% health-based
Pine Valley Plantation: 37 violations, 24% health-based
McLouth, City Of: 29 violations, 17% health-based
Kipling Oaks 1: 25 violations, 16% health-based
South Deerfield Water Supply District: 96 violations, 16% health-based
Sunset Ridge Water District: 82 violations, 15% health-based
Orange Water Dept: 136 violations, 14% health-based
Ponce Urbano: 2,210 violations, 12% health-based (this system)
Mount Pleasant Water Sys #1: 167 violations, 11% health-based
Lake Gibson Estates: 42 violations, 2% health-based
Benson Culinary Improvement District: 212 violations, 1% health-based
Conemaugh Twp Muni Auth: 567 violations, 1% health-based
Miccosukee Service Plaza: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Brazoria - Fort Bend Counties MUD 3: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Tanglewilde Thompson Place 600: 2 violations, 0% health-based
Center Water Co: 5 violations, 0% health-based
Spring Mills Elem School/Hvs: 9 violations, 0% health-based
Great Bend Industrial Park: 14 violations, 0% health-based
Glen Park Village: 19 violations, 0% health-based
Camp Is-Sho-Da: 22 violations, 0% health-based
Hamilton: 33 violations, 0% health-based
Town of Welaka: 54 violations, 0% health-based
Township of Blairstown Dpw: 61 violations, 0% health-based
McIntosh Water & Fire Pro Authority: 71 violations, 0% health-based
Clarkdale Municipal Water System: 114 violations, 0% health-based
Eureka Water Association: 273 violations, 0% health-based

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 82 of 1508 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFOA	9/25/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	9/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	9/25/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	9/25/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	9/25/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	9/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	9/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	9/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	9/25/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	9/25/2023	10.70 ppt	4.00 ppt	Detected
PFNA	9/25/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	9/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	9/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	9/25/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	9/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	9/25/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	9/25/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	9/25/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	9/25/2023	6.30 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFHpS	9/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	9/25/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	9/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	9/25/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	9/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	9/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	9/25/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	9/25/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	9/25/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	9/25/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	9/19/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	9/19/2023	16.70 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFHpA	9/19/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	9/19/2023	6.40 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
NMeFOSAA	9/19/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	9/19/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	9/19/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	9/19/2023	25.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Detected
PFTA	9/19/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	9/19/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	9/19/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	9/19/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	9/19/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	9/19/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	9/19/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	9/19/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	9/19/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	9/19/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	9/19/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	9/19/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	9/19/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected

UCMR5 PFAS record for Ponce Urbano

Open EPA SDWIS federal reports for PWS PR0003824 to cross-check UCMR5 detections and violation codes; state primacy agencies enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act locally.

EPA SDWIS · PWS PR0003824

Sources: EPA SDWIS

Nationwide peers

2,210 violations · 111,926 served: nearest cross-state SDWIS matches.

Cross-state systems with comparable violation load

Nearest cross-state community systems (500+ served) by total SDWIS violations on record.

4 peers

Cross-state systems with similar served population

Nearest cross-state systems by EPA SDWIS population_served (same 500+ sitemap gate).

4 peers

What to do with Ponce Urbano

Use this system's EPA-reported record as a starting filter, not a final verdict.

See how every tracked system in Puerto Rico compares on the same EPA violation measures. Puerto Rico systems
Check whether PFAS was detected at this system under UCMR5 testing. PFAS guide
Find and compare another public water system by name or PWSID. Search systems

EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 figures are informational only, not a substitute for a certified lab test of your own tap water.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater

Compiled by PlainWater, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Process · May 15, 2026

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.