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Community Water System · PWS PR0004635

Cayey Urbano

Cayey, Puerto Rico 00660 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 18,185 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

18,185
People served
438
EPA violations
68
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 438 drinking-water violations at Cayey Urbano, 16% of them health-based - above the Puerto Rico per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

438
Total EPA violations on record
16%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
18,185
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Cayey Urbano

Cayey Urbano is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 18,185 residents in Cayey, Puerto Rico (Cayey Municipio County) through 6,811 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 438 total violations for this system , of which 68 (16%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 334 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2022.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 28 violations (TT, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 5.5 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

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%).

Cayey Urbano's 438 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.

PFAS Detected

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

Population Served
18,185
Total Violations
438
Health-Based Violations
68
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
6,811
County
Cayey Municipio
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
13
Monitoring Violations
334
Treatment Tech Violations
55

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 28 1999
Lead and Copper Rule MR 26 2016
CARBON, TOTAL TT 18 2021
Antimony, Total MR 16 2007
Thallium, Total MR 16 2007
Cryptosporidium MR 13 2018
Coliform (TCR) MR 10 2014
Turbidity MR 10 2018
E. COLI MR 10 2018
Barium MR 9 2007
Cadmium MR 9 2007
Selenium MR 9 2007
Chromium MR 9 2007
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 7 2004
Nickel MR 7 2007
Beryllium, Total MR 7 2007
Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 2009
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 6 2004
CHLOROBENZENE MR 6 2008
TTHM MCL 6 2020
Arsenic MR 5 2006
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 4 2005
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 4 2005
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 4 2005
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 4 2005
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 4 2005
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 4 2005
Trichloroethylene MR 4 2005
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 4 2005
Benzene MR 4 2005

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFMPA 7/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/29/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/29/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/29/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/29/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/29/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/29/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/29/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/29/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/29/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 4/17/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 4/17/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/17/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/17/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/17/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/17/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 4/17/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/17/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/17/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/17/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/17/2024 5.50 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
4:2 FTS 4/17/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/17/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/17/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 4/17/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/17/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/17/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/17/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/17/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 4/17/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 4/17/2024 <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 Cayey Urbano.

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 PR0004635 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
2022 Revised Total Coliform Rule MCL 1 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 8000
2021 CARBON, TOTAL TT 18 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 2920
2020 TTHM MCL 6 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 2950
2020 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 7000
2018 Cryptosporidium MR 13 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 3015
2018 Turbidity MR 10 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 0100
2018 E. COLI MR 10 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 3014
2016 Lead and Copper Rule MR 26 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 5000
2015 TTHM MR 2 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 2950
2015 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 2 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 2456
2014 Coliform (TCR) MR 10 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 3100
2009 Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 3100
2008 CHLOROBENZENE MR 6 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 2989
2007 Antimony, Total MR 16 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 1074
2007 Thallium, Total MR 16 SDWIS / PR0004635 / 1085

How Cayey Urbano Compares

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

Metric Cayey Urbano Puerto Rico avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 438 358.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 68 75.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 40.4% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 18,185 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 Cayey Urbano water safe to drink?
Cayey Urbano (PWS ID: PR0004635) has 438 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 18,185 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Cayey Urbano serve?
Cayey Urbano serves 18,185 people in Cayey, Puerto Rico. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 6,811 service connections.
What type of violations does Cayey Urbano have?
Cayey Urbano has 438 total violations: 68 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 334 monitoring/reporting violations, and 55 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Cayey Urbano water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Cayey Urbano's water supply: PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Cayey Urbano use?
Cayey 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.
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.