Monitoring Violations MA

Grafton Water District

EPA ID: MA2110000 · 10,925 people served · 4 ZIP codes

Five-year compliance data for Grafton Water District includes 3 violations the EPA has not yet marked resolved — those open findings are part of the utility's current enforcement profile, covering a service population of approximately 10,925 residents across the area it supplies.

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

C · 58
Avg Safety Score
10,925
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
10
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0083 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
7
Contaminants Flagged
$503K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Grafton Water District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$121,010
Median Household Income
58,211
Service Area Population
22%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
60%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Grafton Water District serves a community with a median household income of $121,010 and an estimated 58,211 residents across its service area. Approximately 60% 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

Grafton Water 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.

Elevated 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

50 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
21 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 70% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Grafton Water District compares to EPA limits

Chlorite 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 1 mg/L
Anemia and nervous system effects in infants and children

What This Means For You

Chlorite at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 1 mg/L. Anemia and nervous system effects in infants and children. Consider ferrous sulfate reduction filtration.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 0700 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 1039 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 2931 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 20 detections recorded. 8 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 →

Chlorite was detected in this water system. ferrous sulfate reduction filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

B 0 violations
D 6 violations
C 0 violations
D 0 violations
C 5 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,350
Radon Mitigation $800
PFAS Treatment $600
Total Estimated Cost $2,750

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

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

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,750 (one-time) vs. $10,330 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

Grafton Water District (EPA ID: MA2110000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 10,925 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (58/100)

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

Violation History

10 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
June 1, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
January 1, 2024 Chlorite Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2023 Chlorite Monitoring Resolved
July 22, 2023 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Contaminant 1039 Monitoring Resolved
April 3, 2023 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2023 Contaminant 2931 Monitoring Unresolved
April 1, 2023 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Chlorite Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 2 No
Contaminant 1039 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2931 Other Violation 1 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
01519 0.0083 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: 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 Grafton Water District (MA2110000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grafton Water District water safe to drink?

Grafton Water District has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Grafton Water District serve?

Grafton Water District serves approximately 10,925 people across 4 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Grafton Water 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
508-839-2302
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
44 Millbury Street, Grafton, MA 01519

Contact information from Grafton Water 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
chlorine

Source: Grafton Water 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 Grafton Water District Consumer Confidence Report:
The Department of Environmental Protection completed an assessment of Grafton's water sources, under the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (SWAP) and determined that Grafton's threat level was high, based on the presence of at least one high-threat land use in our Zone II area of one of our water supply wells.

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.
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.

AgricultureIndustrial activityStorage tanksSeptic systemsUrban stormwater runoff

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Grafton Water 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: 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
17
Latest sample
8/20/2025
Highest analyte
PFOA: 6.9 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 6.9 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFOS 6.9 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxA 3.6 ppt
PFPeA 3.5 ppt
PFBS 3.1 ppt

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 →

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
0.0051 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: 10,925
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).

  • treatment technique
    2023-04-03 to 2023-04-05
    Violation of treatment requirement for Chlorine due to an alarm malfunction.

Violations record from Grafton Water District Consumer Confidence Report.

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 Grafton Water District Consumer Confidence Report:
  • Notification of violation of treatment requirement for Chlorine due to an alarm malfunction from April 3rd to April 5th, 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.

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 Grafton Water District safe to drink?
Grafton Water District has a C safety grade based on 10 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Grafton Water District's water?
Detected contaminants include Chlorite, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Contaminant 0700, Contaminant 1039. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Grafton Water District serve?
Grafton Water District serves approximately 10,925 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Grafton Water District's water source?
Grafton Water District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Grafton Water District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0083 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Grafton Water District's service area?
The Grafton Water District service area has a median household income of $121,010. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Grafton Water District get its water?
Grafton Water 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. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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

Grafton Water District (EPA ID: MA2110000) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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