Water System Report MA

Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply

EPA ID: MA2097000 ยท 41,946 people served ยท 2 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply (MA2097000): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Even as other utilities in the region logged violations, Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply kept a clean EPA record - five years, no issues, 41,946 people served.

Data: EPA SDWIS

D ยท 50
Avg Safety Score
41,946
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.005 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$369K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$90,109
Median Household Income
53,499
Service Area Population
22%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
75%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply serves a community with a median household income of $90,109 and an estimated 53,499 residents across its service area. Approximately 75% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply'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
60th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

67 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
11 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 86% 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. 6 detections recorded. 2 exceed 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 โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

B 0 violations
Billerica Water Works
42,119 people
D 3 violations
D 0 violations
C 1 violation
B 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,200
Radon Mitigation $800
PFAS Treatment $600
Total Estimated Cost $2,600

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 $2,600 (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

Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply (EPA ID: MA2097000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 41,946 people from surface water sources.

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

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (50/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 2 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.005 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” 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 Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply (MA2097000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply serve?

Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply serves approximately 41,946 people across 2 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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
232
Detections
3
Latest sample
12/4/2024
Highest analyte
PFOA: 4.9 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 4.9 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxA 4.3 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 4.2 ppt โ€” โ€”

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply safe to drink?
Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply has a D safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply serve?
Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply serves approximately 41,946 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply's water source?
Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.005 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply's service area?
The Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply service area has a median household income of $90,109. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply get its water?
Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply'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.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply: Serves 42K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma2097000/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ma2097000,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Fitchburg Dpw  Division of Water Supply: Serves 42K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma2097000/}
}

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 โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply (EPA ID: MA2097000) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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