Water System Report MA

Adams Fire District

EPA ID: MA1004000 · 7,851 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Although compliance varies widely among water utilities nationally, Adams Fire District stands out with zero EPA violations over five consecutive monitoring years, delivering safe tap water to 7,851 residents and showing no enforcement activity across the entire reporting span.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 66
Avg Safety Score
7,851
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0014 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$234K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Adams Fire District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$55,643
Median Household Income
8,839
Service Area Population
23%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
81%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Adams Fire District serves a community with a median household income of $55,643 and an estimated 8,839 residents across its service area. Approximately 81% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Adams Fire District's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Low Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Berkshire County, Massachusetts rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

89 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Lead
Pipe Material
8 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 92% of expected lifespan used End of life

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

B 1 violation
0 violations
C 2 violations
C 0 violations
B 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $1,000

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

System Overview

Adams Fire District (EPA ID: MA1004000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 7,851 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (66/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
01220 0.0014 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 1 ZIP code confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Adams Fire District (MA1004000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Adams Fire District water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Adams Fire District has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Adams Fire District serve?

Adams Fire District serves approximately 7,851 people across 2 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Adams Fire District get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
413-743-0179
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Address
3 Columbia Street, Adams, MA 01220

Contact information from Adams Fire District Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
sodium hypochloriteCalciQuest

Source: Adams Fire District Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from Adams Fire District Consumer Confidence Report:
The Cheshire Harbor Wellfield was given a susceptibility ranking of moderate to high. The SWAP Report notes the key issues of following best management practices related to spill prevention and implementing a wellhead protection plan. The report recommends following Best Management Practices (BMP's) focusing on spill prevention and implementing a Wellhead Protection Plan.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
sodium hypochlorite
Other reported chemicals
Reported by the utility but not in our annotation dictionary.
CalciQuest

Watershed exposure sources reported

Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.

AgricultureIndustrial activitySeptic systemsUrban stormwater runoffFertilizer useLeaching from septic tanksSewageErosion of natural depositsRocket propellantsFireworksMunitionsFlaresBlasting agentsDischarges from factoriesDry cleanersPlastic factoriesPetroleum factoriesChemical plantsLandfillsGas storage tanksMetal degreasing sitesTextile-finishing factoriesUse of sodium-containing de-icing compoundsWater-softening agentsIndustrial uses

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Adams Fire District Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
58

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

PFAS Substances Detected in This System

This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.

Substance Detected level EPA limit Status
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Not disclosed 4 ppt
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Not disclosed 4 ppt
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Component of EPA Hazard Index — combined exposure assessed against unitless threshold of 1.0.
Not disclosed No federal limit set
PFHxS
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Not disclosed 10 ppt
PFNA
Perfluorononanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Not disclosed 10 ppt
GenX
Not yet EPA-regulated
Not disclosed 10 ppt
HFPO-DA
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX)
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Not disclosed 10 ppt

In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →

Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by Adams Fire District.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.

Learn more about PFAS health effects and filtration →

Lead service line replacement plan from Adams Fire District Consumer Confidence Report:
The District has not found any lead service lines at this point in Adams or have any records of such installations.

Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker

This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.

Get notified on replacement progress

Subscribers receive an email when this utility updates its LSL plan, files a milestone report, or adjusts replacement timelines. No marketing, no third-party sharing.

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Adams Fire District

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.

Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Utility-reported lead service line presence and tap-sample lead level under federal LCRI requirements:

None reported
Lead Service Lines Reported
0.0015 mg/L
Tap Sample Lead Level

Below federal action level (0.015 mg/L)

MassDEP reports utility-level presence flag and tap-sampling without per-line breakdown. Customers should inquire with the utility about service line material at a specific address.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Did not report any required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-06-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 7,851
Reported to Massachusetts

Source: MassDEP LCRR Service Line Inventory · Submitted 2024

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Notable events and violations

This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.

Notable events from the utility's CCR

These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.

Notable events from Adams Fire District Consumer Confidence Report:
  • One total coliform sample was positive, but all repeat samples came back negative. No violation occurred.

ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Adams Fire District safe to drink?
Adams Fire District has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Adams Fire District meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Adams Fire District serve?
Adams Fire District serves approximately 7,851 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Adams Fire District's water source?
Adams Fire District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Adams Fire District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0014 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Adams Fire District's service area?
The Adams Fire District service area has a median household income of $55,643. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Adams Fire District get its water?
Adams Fire District's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Adams Fire District (EPA ID: MA1004000) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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