Current Noncompliance MA

Holliston Water Department

EPA ID: MA2136000 ยท 15,139 people served ยท 1 ZIP code

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Holliston Water Department (MA2136000): 2 unresolved EPA violations on record. Looking at the EPA enforcement file for Holliston Water Department, 2 violations are listed as unresolved - those findings cover the utility's service area of approximately 15,139 people and remain open in the federal compliance system, awaiting formal corrective action documentation.

Data: EPA SDWIS

F ยท 37
Avg Safety Score
15,139
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
32
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0029 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
31
Contaminants Flagged
$621K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade F

Service Area Demographics

$154,684
Median Household Income
14,964
Service Area Population
12%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
78%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Holliston Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $154,684 and an estimated 14,964 residents across its service area. Approximately 78% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Holliston 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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
80th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

62 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
3 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 95% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Holliston Water Department compares to EPA limits

Contaminant 2015 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.0005 mg/L
Probable carcinogen; liver & thyroid damage, immune suppression
Atrazine 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.003 mg/L
Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects
Benzene 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.005 mg/L
Contaminant 2110 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.005 mg/L
Leukemia & blood cancers (known carcinogen)

What This Means For You

Contaminant 2015 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.0005 mg/L. Probable carcinogen; liver & thyroid damage, immune suppression. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Atrazine at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.003 mg/L. Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Benzene at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.005 mg/L.

Contaminant 2110 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.005 mg/L. Leukemia & blood cancers (known carcinogen). Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 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. 5 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†’

Contaminant 2015 was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

B 2 violations
Hanover Water Department
14,984 people
C 1 violation
C 0 violations
Bedford Water Department
14,955 people
C 0 violations
Whitman Water System
14,947 people
B 0 violations

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 $600
Total Estimated Cost $3,000

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.

Cost of Inaction

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

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,665
10 years
$15,330
20 years
$30,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,000 (one-time) vs. $15,330 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

Holliston Water Department (EPA ID: MA2136000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 15,139 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 01746 in Holliston.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: F (37/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 1 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

2 current noncompliance records in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot; none are classified as health-based in this evidence.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 30 resolved, 0 archived, 2 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
October 1, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Non-health-based Addressed (current)
April 1, 2023 Stage 1 DBP Rule Non-health-based Addressed (current)
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2031 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2035 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Atrazine Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2041 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2032 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2033 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2034 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2274 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2042 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2036 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2040 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2037 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2063 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2051 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Benzene Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2046 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2959 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Contaminant 2105 Non-health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Contaminant 2005 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2010 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2015 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2020 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2031 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2032 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2033 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2034 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2035 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2036 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2037 Other Violation 1 No
Atrazine Organic 1 No
Contaminant 2040 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2041 Other Violation 1 No

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0029 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 Holliston Water Department (MA2136000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Holliston Water Department water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 2 current noncompliance records and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.

How many people does Holliston Water Department serve?

Holliston Water Department serves approximately 15,139 people across 1 ZIP code in Massachusetts.

Where does Holliston Water Department get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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
182
Detections
13
Latest sample
9/10/2025
Highest analyte
PFOS: 6.5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 6.5 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFOA 5.3 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFBS 3.9 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 3.5 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 3.3 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 Holliston Water Department safe to drink?
Holliston Water Department has a F safety grade based on 32 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Holliston Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Contaminant 2015, Atrazine, Benzene, Contaminant 2110. 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 Holliston Water Department serve?
Holliston Water Department serves approximately 15,139 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Holliston Water Department's water source?
Holliston Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Holliston Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0029 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Holliston Water Department's service area?
The Holliston Water Department service area has a median household income of $154,684. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Holliston Water Department get its water?
Holliston 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 the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Holliston Water Department (MA): 32 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma2136000/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ma2136000,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Holliston Water Department (MA): 32 EPA Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma2136000/}
}

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

Holliston Water Department (EPA ID: MA2136000) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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