Historical Compliance Records MA 2 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Fairhaven Water Department

EPA ID: MA4094000 ยท 15,155 people served ยท 1 ZIP code

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Fairhaven Water Department (MA4094000): 2 past health-based violations, since resolved. A total of 2 EPA violations spanning the past five monitoring years sit on Fairhaven Water Department's record - every finding has been officially cleared, and the supplier now holds current compliance status for its service population of approximately 15,155 people, with no outstanding enforcement of any kind.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 82
Avg Safety Score
15,155
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.005 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
1
Contaminants Flagged
$407K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$92,500
Median Household Income
15,878
Service Area Population
36%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
86%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Fairhaven Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $92,500 and an estimated 15,878 residents across its service area. Approximately 86% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 36% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Fairhaven 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
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

70 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
0 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 100% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Fairhaven Water Department compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Consumer Confidence Report 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. 1 detection 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

F 32 violations
C 0 violations
Hanover Water Department
14,984 people
C 1 violation
C 0 violations
Bedford Water Department
14,955 people
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $500
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $2,400

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 $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,400 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

Fairhaven Water Department (EPA ID: MA4094000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 15,155 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 02719 in Fairhaven.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (82/100)

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

No current noncompliance in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot. The 2 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 2 resolved, 0 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
October 1, 2021 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Health-based Resolved
September 1, 2021 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 2 Yes

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.005 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 Fairhaven Water Department (MA4094000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fairhaven Water Department water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Fairhaven Water Department; its 2 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Fairhaven Water Department serve?

Fairhaven Water Department serves approximately 15,155 people across 1 ZIP code in Massachusetts.

Where does Fairhaven 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
29

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 Fairhaven Water Department safe to drink?
Fairhaven Water Department earns a B safety grade with 2 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Fairhaven Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include 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 1 contaminant 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 Fairhaven Water Department serve?
Fairhaven Water Department serves approximately 15,155 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Fairhaven Water Department's water source?
Fairhaven Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Fairhaven Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.005 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Fairhaven Water Department's service area?
The Fairhaven Water Department service area has a median household income of $92,500. EPA EJScreen data classifies 36% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Fairhaven Water Department get its water?
Fairhaven 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.). Fairhaven Water Department (MA): 2 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4094000/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ma4094000,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Fairhaven Water Department (MA): 2 Health Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4094000/}
}

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

Fairhaven Water Department (EPA ID: MA4094000) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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