Water System Report MA

Brewster Water Department

EPA ID: MA4041000 ยท 35,000 people served ยท 2 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Brewster Water Department (MA4041000): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Throughout five consecutive years of federal water monitoring, Brewster Water Department recorded zero violations - solid performance for a utility serving 35,000 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 83
Avg Safety Score
35,000
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0034 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$602K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$91,663
Median Household Income
21,249
Service Area Population
5%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
62%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Brewster Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $91,663 and an estimated 21,249 residents across its service area. Approximately 62% 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

Brewster 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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
0th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

38 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
32 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 54% 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. 2 detections recorded.

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
C 0 violations
C 2 violations
C 1 violation
C 6 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,500
Radon Mitigation $800
PFAS Treatment $250
Total Estimated Cost $2,550

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 $2,550 (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

Brewster Water Department (EPA ID: MA4041000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 35,000 people from groundwater sources.

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

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (83/100)

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
0.0034 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 2 (Moderate 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 Brewster Water Department (MA4041000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brewster Water Department water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Brewster Water Department 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 Brewster Water Department serve?

Brewster Water Department serves approximately 35,000 people across 2 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Brewster Water Department get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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.

Samples collected
290

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 Brewster Water Department safe to drink?
Brewster Water Department earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Brewster Water Department meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Brewster Water Department serve?
Brewster Water Department serves approximately 35,000 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Brewster Water Department's water source?
Brewster Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Brewster Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0034 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Brewster Water Department's service area?
The Brewster Water Department service area has a median household income of $91,663. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Brewster Water Department get its water?
Brewster 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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Brewster Water Department, MA: Serves 35K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4041000/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ma4041000,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Brewster Water Department, MA: Serves 35K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4041000/}
}
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