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Community Water System · PWS PR0005096

Gurabo Urbano

Gurabo, Puerto Rico 00778 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 24,967 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

24,967
People served
540
EPA violations
274
Health-based
4 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 540 drinking-water violations at Gurabo Urbano, 51% of them health-based - above the Puerto Rico per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds.

540
Total EPA violations on record
51%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
24,967
People served by this system
4
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Gurabo Urbano

Gurabo Urbano is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 24,967 residents in Gurabo, Puerto Rico (Gurabo Municipio County) through 9,351 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 540 total violations for this system , of which 274 (51%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 244 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 94 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 4 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 7.4 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%).

Gurabo Urbano's 540 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

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

Population Served
24,967
Total Violations
540
Health-Based Violations
274
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
9,351
County
Gurabo Municipio
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
141
Monitoring Violations
244
Treatment Tech Violations
133

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 94 2005
CARBON, TOTAL TT 59 2014
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 42 2010
TTHM MCL 34 2020
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 32 2000
Cryptosporidium MR 20 2018
Turbidity MR 16 2018
E. COLI MR 16 2018
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 13 2010
Coliform (TCR) MR 12 2014
Beryllium, Total MR 10 2007
Lead and Copper Rule MR 8 2015
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 7 2025
Arsenic MR 7 2010
TTHM MR 6 2016
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 6 2016
Chromium MR 4 2007
Mercury MR 4 2007
Nickel MR 4 2007
Antimony, Total MR 4 2007
Thallium, Total MR 4 2007
Selenium MR 4 2007
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 4 2007
Endrin MR 4 2012
BHC-GAMMA MR 4 2012
Toxaphene MR 4 2012
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 4 2012
Chlordane MR 4 2012
Methoxychlor MR 4 2012
Heptachlor MR 4 2012

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 13 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFBA 7/24/2023 7.20 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFHxA 7/24/2023 3.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 7/24/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/24/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/24/2023 4.40 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFEESA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/24/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/24/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/24/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/24/2023 4.30 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/24/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/24/2023 4.80 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/24/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/24/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/24/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/24/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/24/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/24/2023 3.40 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 7/24/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/24/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/24/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/24/2023 <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 Gurabo 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 PR0005096 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
2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 7 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 0200
2020 TTHM MCL 34 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 2950
2020 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 7000
2018 Cryptosporidium MR 20 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 3015
2018 Turbidity MR 16 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 0100
2018 E. COLI MR 16 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 3014
2016 TTHM MR 6 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 2950
2016 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 6 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 2456
2015 Lead and Copper Rule MR 8 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 5000
2014 CARBON, TOTAL TT 59 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 2920
2014 Coliform (TCR) MR 12 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 3100
2012 Endrin MR 4 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 2005
2012 BHC-GAMMA MR 4 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 2010
2012 Toxaphene MR 4 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 2020
2012 HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 4 SDWIS / PR0005096 / 2274

How Gurabo Urbano Compares

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

Metric Gurabo Urbano Puerto Rico avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 540 358.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 274 75.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 4 compounds 40.4% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 24,967 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 Gurabo Urbano water safe to drink? ▼
Gurabo Urbano (PWS ID: PR0005096) has 540 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 4 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 24,967 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Gurabo Urbano serve? ▼
Gurabo Urbano serves 24,967 people in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 9,351 service connections.
What type of violations does Gurabo Urbano have? ▼
Gurabo Urbano has 540 total violations: 274 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 244 monitoring/reporting violations, and 133 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Gurabo Urbano water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds in Gurabo Urbano's water supply: PFBA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFOS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Gurabo Urbano use? ▼
Gurabo 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.

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.