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Community Water System · PWS PR0004324

Penuelas

Penuelas, Puerto Rico 00624 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 17,320 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

17,320
People served
375
EPA violations
107
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 375 drinking-water violations at Penuelas, 29% of them health-based - above the Puerto Rico per-system average.

375
Total EPA violations on record
29%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
17,320
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Penuelas

Penuelas is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 17,320 residents in Penuelas, Puerto Rico (Penuelas Municipio County) through 6,487 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 375 total violations for this system , of which 107 (29%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 253 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 80 violations (TT, 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 Puerto Rico, EPA tracks 458 public water systems serving 3,328,141 people, with 164,144 cumulative violations and 34,657 health-based violations on record. About 100% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 358.4 violations. Statewide, 40 of 99 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (40.4%).

Penuelas's 375 violations sit above the Puerto Rico 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
17,320
Total Violations
375
Health-Based Violations
107
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
6,487
County
Penuelas Municipio
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
19
Monitoring Violations
253
Treatment Tech Violations
88

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 80 2023
Cryptosporidium MR 46 2019
E. COLI MR 42 2019
Turbidity MR 42 2019
Coliform (TCR) MCL 15 2013
Lead and Copper Rule MR 12 2015
Mercury MR 5 2009
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 1998
CARBON, TOTAL TT 4 2011
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 4 2016
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2020
Coliform (TCR) MR 3 2014
TTHM MR 3 2014
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 3 2014
Public Notice Other 3 2019
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2005
Xylenes, Total MR 2 2005
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 2005
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 2005
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2005
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2005
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 2 2005
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 2 2005
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 2 2005
Trichloroethylene MR 2 2005
CHLOROBENZENE MR 2 2005
Toluene MR 2 2005
Ethylbenzene MR 2 2005
Styrene MR 2 2005
Diquat MR 2 2009

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 290 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFHpA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 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
PFHxS 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 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
NEtFOSAA 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/25/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/25/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/25/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 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
4:2 FTS 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
PFBA 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/16/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/16/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/16/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/16/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/16/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/16/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/16/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/16/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/16/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/16/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/16/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/16/2023 <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 Penuelas.

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 PR0004324 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Puerto Rico Drinking Water Authority

Puerto Rico's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find PR regulator via EPA SDWIS

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
2023 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 80 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 0300
2020 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 7000
2019 Cryptosporidium MR 46 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 3015
2019 E. COLI MR 42 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 3014
2019 Turbidity MR 42 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 0100
2019 Public Notice Other 3 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 7500
2019 Methoxychlor MR 2 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 2015
2019 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 2 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 2042
2019 Heptachlor MR 2 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 2065
2019 Heptachlor epoxide MR 2 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 2067
2019 Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 2 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 2383
2019 Chlordane MR 2 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 2959
2019 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 2 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 2035
2019 Carbofuran MR 2 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 2046
2019 OXAMYL MR 2 SDWIS / PR0004324 / 2036

How Penuelas Compares

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

Metric Penuelas Puerto Rico avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 375 358.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 107 75.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 40.4% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 17,320 7,267 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 458 regulated public water systems in Puerto Rico.

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 Penuelas water safe to drink? ▼
Penuelas (PWS ID: PR0004324) has 375 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 17,320 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Penuelas serve? ▼
Penuelas serves 17,320 people in Penuelas, Puerto Rico. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 6,487 service connections.
What type of violations does Penuelas have? ▼
Penuelas has 375 total violations: 107 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 253 monitoring/reporting violations, and 88 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Penuelas water? ▼
No. Penuelas was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Penuelas use? ▼
Penuelas 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.