Historical Compliance Records MA 2 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Somerset Water Department

EPA ID: MA4273000 ยท 18,303 people served ยท 2 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Somerset Water Department (MA4273000): 2 past health-based violations, since resolved. Beyond the 2 historical violations on Somerset Water Department's EPA record, nothing remains open - the utility is currently compliant and supplies water to 18,303 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 83
Avg Safety Score
18,303
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.01 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
1
Contaminants Flagged
$390K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$118,828
Median Household Income
18,246
Service Area Population
36%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
78%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Somerset Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $118,828 and an estimated 18,246 residents across its service area. Approximately 78% 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.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Somerset 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.

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.

Infrastructure Risk

61 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
5 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 92% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Somerset Water Department compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 2 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 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

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

Sudbury Water District
18,416 people
D 2 violations
C 0 violations
D 0 violations
Foxboro Water Department
18,721 people
C 0 violations
Concord Water Department
18,788 people
D 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
Water Filtration $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,200

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.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,200 (one-time) vs. $5,000 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

Somerset Water Department (EPA ID: MA4273000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 18,303 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 1 community.

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 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: 0 resolved, 2 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 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Health-based Archived
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
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 2 Yes

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
0.01 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 Somerset Water Department (MA4273000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Somerset Water Department water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Somerset 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 Somerset Water Department serve?

Somerset Water Department serves approximately 18,303 people across 2 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Somerset 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.

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†’

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 Somerset Water Department safe to drink?
Somerset 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 Somerset Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). 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 Somerset Water Department serve?
Somerset Water Department serves approximately 18,303 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Somerset Water Department's water source?
Somerset Water Department draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Somerset Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.01 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Somerset Water Department's service area?
The Somerset Water Department service area has a median household income of $118,828. EPA EJScreen data classifies 36% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Somerset Water Department get its water?
Somerset 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. 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.). Somerset Water Department (MA): 2 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4273000/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ma4273000,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Somerset Water Department (MA): 2 Health Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4273000/}
}

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

Somerset Water Department (EPA ID: MA4273000) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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