Water System Report MA

Southwick Water Department

EPA ID: MA1279000 · 7,646 people served · 1 ZIP code

From the earliest to the most recent cycle in the five-year EPA window, Southwick Water Department has logged zero violations — no MCL exceedances, no health advisories, and no enforcement activity across the entire period for the 7,646 people in its service area, a record that stands up well against both state and national benchmarks.

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

B · 78
Avg Safety Score
7,646
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0026 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$376K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Southwick Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$108,833
Median Household Income
9,222
Service Area Population
43%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
57%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Southwick Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $108,833 and an estimated 9,222 residents across its service area. Approximately 57% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 43% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Southwick Water Department's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

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

Infrastructure Risk

55 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
15 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 79% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.

State limits: PFAS6: 0.02 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

C 0 violations
Norfolk Water Division
7,602 people
B 6 violations
C 3 violations
B 6 violations
D 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $500
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,100

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,100 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Southwick Water Department (EPA ID: MA1279000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 7,646 people from surface water sources.

This system serves ZIP code 01077 in Southwick.

Average Home Safety Score: B (78/100)

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
01077 0.0026 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: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by MA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Southwick Water Department (MA1279000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Southwick Water Department water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Southwick Water Department has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Southwick Water Department serve?

Southwick Water Department serves approximately 7,646 people across 1 ZIP code in Massachusetts.

Where does Southwick Water Department get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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
413-569-6772
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
454 College Highway Southwick, MA 01077

Contact information from Southwick Water Department 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
chlorine

Source: Southwick Water Department 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 Southwick Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
A susceptibility ranking of high was assigned to this system using the information collected during the assessment by MassDEP. The complete SWAP report is available at the DPW Office at Town Hall and online at https://www.mass.gov/service-details/the-source-water-assessment-protection-swap-program.

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.
chlorine

Watershed exposure sources reported

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

Drilling wastesMetal refineriesFertilizer useSeptic systemsMunitionsFIreworksIndustrial usesSurface water inflows

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Southwick Water Department 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
232

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
PFAS6
Not yet EPA-regulated
1.8 ppt No federal limit set

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 Southwick Water Department.

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 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: 7,646
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.

Federal compliance violations on record

These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).

  • MCL · Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
    2023-Q1 & Q2
    Exceeded MCL during quarters 1 and 2 of 2023; corrected actions taken including public notification and press release.

Violations record from Southwick Water Department Consumer Confidence Report.

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 Southwick Water Department safe to drink?
Southwick Water Department earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Southwick Water Department meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Southwick Water Department serve?
Southwick Water Department serves approximately 7,646 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Southwick Water Department's water source?
Southwick Water Department draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Southwick Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0026 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Southwick Water Department's service area?
The Southwick Water Department service area has a median household income of $108,833. EPA EJScreen data classifies 43% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Southwick Water Department get its water?
Southwick Water Department's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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