Current Noncompliance MA 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Scituate Water Division

EPA ID: MA4264000 ยท 19,297 people served ยท 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Scituate Water Division (MA4264000): 5 unresolved EPA violations on record. Where compliant utilities carry no open actions, Scituate Water Division shows 5 active EPA violations in the federal database for a service population of approximately 19,297.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 57
Avg Safety Score
19,297
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
8
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
7
Contaminants Flagged
$695K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Scituate Water Division Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$131,889
Median Household Income
44,940
Service Area Population
10%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
77%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Scituate Water Division serves a community with a median household income of $131,889 and an estimated 44,940 residents across its service area. Approximately 77% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Scituate Water Division'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
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
60th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

68 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
3 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 96% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Scituate Water Division compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects

What This Means For You

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Contaminant 3002 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Total Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Lead and Copper 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. 18 detections recorded. 6 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 โ†’

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

A 1 violation
Norton Water Department
19,161 people
C 2 violations
C 0 violations
D 0 violations
C 1 violation

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 $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $200
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 $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 $2,400 (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

Scituate Water Division (EPA ID: MA4264000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 19,297 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (57/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 2 of 3 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

5 current noncompliance records in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot; none are classified as health-based in this evidence.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 1 resolved, 2 archived, 5 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
August 29, 2025 Contaminant 3002 Non-health-based Addressed (current)
July 26, 2025 Contaminant 3002 Non-health-based Addressed (current)
June 6, 2025 Total Coliform Non-health-based Addressed (current)
June 6, 2025 Lead and Copper Rule Non-health-based Addressed (current)
June 5, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Non-health-based Addressed (current)
January 1, 2024 Copper Non-health-based Archived
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2021 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Health-based Archived

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Contaminant 3002 Other Violation 2 No
Copper Inorganic 1 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 1 Yes
Total Coliform Microbiological 1 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 1 No

Health Risk Details

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)

Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.

Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter โ†’

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.002 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 Scituate Water Division (MA4264000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Scituate Water Division water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 5 current noncompliance records and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.

How many people does Scituate Water Division serve?

Scituate Water Division serves approximately 19,297 people across 3 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Scituate Water Division get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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
290
Detections
7
Latest sample
11/16/2023
Highest analyte
PFOS: 5.7 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 5.7 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFOA 5.6 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxA 3 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFBS 3 ppt โ€” โ€”

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 Scituate Water Division safe to drink?
Scituate Water Division has a C safety grade based on 8 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Scituate Water Division's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Contaminant 3002, Total Coliform, Surface Water Treatment Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 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 Scituate Water Division serve?
Scituate Water Division serves approximately 19,297 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Scituate Water Division's water source?
Scituate Water Division draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Scituate Water Division's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.002 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Scituate Water Division's service area?
The Scituate Water Division service area has a median household income of $131,889. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Scituate Water Division get its water?
Scituate Water Division'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 the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Scituate Water Division (MA): 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4264000/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ma4264000,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Scituate Water Division (MA): 1 Health Violation}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4264000/}
}

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

Scituate Water Division (EPA ID: MA4264000) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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