Monitoring Violations MA

Westborough Water Department

EPA ID: MA2328000 · 21,567 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Westborough Water Department carries 1 open EPA violation that remain unresolved in the federal system — approximately 21,567 people fall within its service area.

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

C · 62
Avg Safety Score
21,567
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
5
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0018 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
4
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$134,474
Median Household Income
21,591
Service Area Population
22%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
63%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Westborough Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $134,474 and an estimated 21,591 residents across its service area. Approximately 63% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Westborough 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.

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.

Infrastructure Risk

48 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Unknown
Pipe Material
19 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 72% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Westborough Water Department compares to EPA limits

Bromodichloroacetic Acid 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Barium 2 mg/L (100% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 2 mg/L

What This Means For You

Bromodichloroacetic Acid at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L.

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

Consumer Confidence Report Rule 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. 3 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

Wareham Fire District
21,418 people
C 4 violations
Gardner Water Department
21,287 people
C 1 violation
B 1 violation
D 2 violations
Canton Water Department
22,453 people
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 $400
PFAS Treatment $200
Total Estimated Cost $1,800

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 $1,800 (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

Westborough Water Department (EPA ID: MA2328000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 21,567 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 1 community.

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

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
October 1, 2023 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Barium Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2023 Bromodichloroacetic Acid Monitoring Unresolved
February 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Barium Inorganic 2 No
Bromodichloroacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting 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
01580 0.0018 mg/L No N/A
01581 0.0018 mg/L No N/A
01582 0.0018 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 2 additional ZIPs 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 Westborough Water Department (MA2328000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Westborough Water Department water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Westborough Water Department serve?

Westborough Water Department serves approximately 21,567 people across 3 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Westborough 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
508-366-3070
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
131 Oak Street

Contact information from Westborough 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
chlorinefluorideorthophosphate

Source: Westborough 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 Westborough Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
The SWAP Report notes the key issues of inappropriate activities in Zone I, residential land uses, transportation corridors, hazardous materials storage and use, oil or hazardous material contamination sites, agricultural activities, and comprehensive wellhead protection planning in the water supply protection area for all water sources.

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
Corrosion inhibitor
Coats pipe interiors to reduce lead and copper leaching from premise plumbing.
orthophosphate
Fluoridation
Added at low levels per state or local public-health policy for dental health.
fluoride

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 tanksTransportation corridors

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Westborough 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
348
Detections
4
Latest sample
1/22/2024
Highest analyte
PFOS: 7.5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 7.5 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFOA 5.8 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFBS 3.4 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 →

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
7.4 ppt 20 ppt Below EPA limit
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
3 ppt 4 ppt Below EPA limit
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
4.5 ppt 4 ppt Above EPA limit
PFNA
Perfluorononanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
2 ppt 10 ppt Below EPA limit
PFHxS
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
2 ppt 10 ppt Below EPA limit
GenX
Not yet EPA-regulated
2 ppt 10 ppt Below EPA limit
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Component of EPA Hazard Index — combined exposure assessed against unitless threshold of 1.0.
5.38 ppt 2000 ppt Below EPA limit
PFHxA
Not yet EPA-regulated
2.9 ppt No federal limit set
PFHPA
Not yet EPA-regulated
2 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 Westborough 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
Non-detect
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 2024-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 21,567
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).

  • monitoring · Revised Total Coliform Rule
    2023-02-01 to 2023-02-28
    Samples were collected and delivered to laboratory but were not analyzed within the required holding time.
  • monitoring · Volatile Organic Compounds
    2023-04-01 to 2023-06-30
    A sample from Well 07G was required but not collected.
  • monitoring · Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS6)
    2023-04-01 to 2023-04-30
    A sample from Well 05G was required but not collected.
  • monitoring · Lead and Copper Rule
    2023-06-01 to 2023-09-30
    A total of 30 samples are required but only 29 samples were collected.
  • monitoring · Arsenic
    2023-07-01 to 2023-09-30
    A sample from the Fisher Street Water Treatment Plant was required but not collected.
  • monitoring · Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS6)
    2023-07-01 to 2023-07-31
    Samples from Well 05G and Well 07G were required but not collected.

Violations record from Westborough Water Department 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 Westborough Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
  • Replacement of 5 gate valves, the flushing of the dead-end hydrants and exercising of gate valves throughout the town
  • Completion of a leak detection program on the entire water distribution system including 95 miles of water mains
  • Completion of the planning and design of upgrades and improvements to the Oak Street Water Treatment Plant for the removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
  • Design work for the Wilkinson Replacement Well No. 1 was started
  • Plans for booster stations at the Ruggles Tank and the Fay Mt. Tank are complete and construction will also begin in 2024

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 Westborough Water Department safe to drink?
Westborough Water Department has a C safety grade based on 5 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Westborough Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Bromodichloroacetic Acid, Barium, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 3 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 Westborough Water Department serve?
Westborough Water Department serves approximately 21,567 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Westborough Water Department's water source?
Westborough Water Department draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Westborough Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0018 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Westborough Water Department's service area?
The Westborough Water Department service area has a median household income of $134,474. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Westborough Water Department get its water?
Westborough 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 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

Westborough Water Department (EPA ID: MA2328000) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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