Winchester Water Department
EPA ID: MA3344000 · 22,970 people served · 1 ZIP code
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Winchester Water Department (MA3344000): 12 EPA violations in the last five years. The five-year EPA compliance file for Winchester Water Department contains 12 violations, each documented and subsequently closed - the utility now operates in full compliance and continues to supply approximately 22,970 residents with water meeting current federal standards, including both health-based and monitoring requirements.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Winchester Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Service Area Demographics
The Winchester Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $218,176 and an estimated 22,862 residents across its service area. Approximately 81% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Winchester 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.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Winchester Water Department compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Mercury at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.002 mg/L. Kidney damage, neurological impairment. Consider activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Cadmium at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.005 mg/L. Kidney damage accumulating over lifetime; probable carcinogen. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Selenium at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.05 mg/L. Hair & nail loss, nerve damage, liver & kidney damage. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Chromium at 1 mg/L (total chromium; California Cr-6 MCL = 0.010 mg/L) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.1 mg/L (total chromium; California Cr-6 MCL = 0.010 mg/L). Stomach & intestinal cancer (known carcinogen). Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Mercury was detected in this water system. activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
System Overview
Winchester Water Department (EPA ID: MA3344000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 22,970 people from surface water sources.
This system serves ZIP code 01890 in Winchester.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 0 resolved, 12 archived, 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Nickel | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Barium | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Nitrite | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Contaminant 1045 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Cadmium | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Chromium | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Fluoride | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Mercury | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Contaminant 1075 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Contaminant 1036 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Contaminant 1085 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Selenium | Non-health-based | Archived |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Chromium | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Fluoride | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Selenium | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Nickel | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Nitrite | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 1036 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 1045 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Mercury | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 1075 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 1085 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0042 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 $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree 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.
- 01890 - Winchester
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Winchester Water Department (MA3344000) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Winchester Water Department water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Winchester Water Department; its 12 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.
How many people does Winchester Water Department serve?
Winchester Water Department serves approximately 22,970 people across 1 ZIP code in Massachusetts.
Where does Winchester Water Department get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
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 →
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Winchester Water Department (MA): 12 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma3344000/
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ma3344000,
author = {{ZipCheckup}},
title = {{Winchester Water Department (MA): 12 EPA Violations}},
year = {n.d.},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma3344000/}
}
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Winchester Water Department (EPA ID: MA3344000) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.