Water System Report MA

Orleans Water Department

EPA ID: MA4224000 ยท 17,460 people served ยท 2 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Orleans Water Department (MA4224000): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Federal monitoring spanning five full years has produced zero violations at Orleans Water Department - a clean record across every reporting cycle for a utility serving approximately 17,460 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 83
Avg Safety Score
17,460
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$98,798
Median Household Income
6,342
Service Area Population
5%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
87%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Orleans Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $98,798 and an estimated 6,342 residents across its service area. Approximately 87% 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

Orleans 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.

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

Infrastructure Risk

56 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
12 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 82% of expected lifespan used End of life

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

Swansea Water District
17,375 people
C 1 violation
Amesbury Dpw Water Div.
17,366 people
C 2 violations
B 0 violations
Webster Water Department
17,776 people
D 2 violations
D 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $1,600

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

Orleans Water Department (EPA ID: MA4224000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 17,460 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 2 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 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 Orleans Water Department (MA4224000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Orleans Water Department water safe to drink?

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

Orleans Water Department serves approximately 17,460 people across 2 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Orleans 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
116

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†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Orleans Water Department safe to drink?
Orleans 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?
Orleans 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 Orleans Water Department serve?
Orleans Water Department serves approximately 17,460 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Orleans Water Department's water source?
Orleans Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Orleans Water Department's service area?
The Orleans Water Department service area has a median household income of $98,798. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Orleans Water Department get its water?
Orleans 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.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Orleans Water Department, MA: Serves 17K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4224000/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ma4224000,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Orleans Water Department, MA: Serves 17K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4224000/}
}
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