Water System Report MA

Blackstone Water Department

EPA ID: MA2032000 · 9,868 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Over five tracked years, Blackstone Water Department has stayed completely violation-free for its 9,868 residents.

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

C · 62
Avg Safety Score
9,868
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0011 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$406K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$107,388
Median Household Income
12,367
Service Area Population
22%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
68%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Blackstone Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $107,388 and an estimated 12,367 residents across its service area. Approximately 68% 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

Blackstone Water Department'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
60th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Worcester 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 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

58 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
10 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 85% 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. 5 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

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

B 0 violations
C 0 violations
Ware Water Department
10,066 people
B 0 violations
Kenwood Water District
9,620 people
0 violations
B 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $300
Total Estimated Cost $2,700

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 $2,700 (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

Blackstone Water Department (EPA ID: MA2032000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 9,868 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: C (62/100)

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
01504 0.0011 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High 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 Blackstone Water Department (MA2032000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Blackstone Water Department water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Blackstone Water Department serve?

Blackstone Water Department serves approximately 9,868 people across 2 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Blackstone Water Department 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
508-883-9331
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
53 Elm Street, Blackstone, MA 01504

Contact information from Blackstone 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
Sodium HypochloriteBlended PhosphateSodium Hydroxide

Source: Blackstone 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 Blackstone Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
MassDEP has prepared a Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Report for the water supply source(s) serving this water system. The SWAP Report assesses the susceptibility of public water supplies. A susceptibility ranking high was assigned to this system using the information collected during the assessment by MassDEP.

Treatment regime

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

Treatment classification
Multi-stage
Multiple treatment stages — typically coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Common for surface-water systems requiring removal of particulates, microorganisms, and dissolved organic compounds before disinfection.

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
pH adjustment
Raises or lowers water acidity to protect pipes and improve treatment performance.
Sodium Hydroxide
Other reported chemicals
Reported by the utility but not in our annotation dictionary.
Blended Phosphate

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 activityStorage tanksSeptic systemsUrban stormwater runoffDomestic wastewater dischargesOil and gas productionMiningFarmingResidential uses

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Blackstone 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: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
58
Detections
1
Latest sample
10/7/2025
Highest analyte
PFOA: 5.7 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 5.7 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL

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
7.25 ppt 20 ppt Below EPA limit

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 Blackstone 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
0.0011 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 2025-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 9,868
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 Blackstone Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
  • The system was in compliance with all drinking water regulations for 2023.

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 Blackstone Water Department safe to drink?
Blackstone Water Department 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?
Blackstone 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 Blackstone Water Department serve?
Blackstone Water Department serves approximately 9,868 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Blackstone Water Department's water source?
Blackstone Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Blackstone Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0011 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Blackstone Water Department's service area?
The Blackstone Water Department service area has a median household income of $107,388. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Blackstone Water Department get its water?
Blackstone Water Department'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. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

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

Blackstone Water Department (EPA ID: MA2032000) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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