Water System Report MA

Walpole Water Department

EPA ID: MA4307000 · 24,070 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Unlike many utilities its size, Walpole Water Department carries a violation-free five-year record — no EPA notices, no MCL exceedances, serving 24,070 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 68
Avg Safety Score
24,070
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0018 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$647K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$180,100
Median Household Income
26,294
Service Area Population
6%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
71%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Walpole Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $180,100 and an estimated 26,294 residents across its service area. Approximately 71% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Walpole 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
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Norfolk County, Massachusetts rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

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

64 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
6 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 91% 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. 18 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

C 0 violations
Dartmouth Water Division
24,630 people
C 6 violations
Mansfield Water Division
23,289 people
B 1 violation
B 0 violations
Easton Water Div
23,112 people
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $500
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,100

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 $2,100 (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

WALPOLE WATER DEPT (EPA ID: MA4307000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 24,070 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: C (68/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
02081 0.0018 mg/L No N/A

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 $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — 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 Walpole Water Department (MA4307000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Walpole Water Department water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Walpole Water Department has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Walpole Water Department serve?

Walpole Water Department serves approximately 24,070 people across 3 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Walpole Water Department get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
(508) 660-7308
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Address
135 School St, Walpole, MA 02081

Contact information from Town of Walpole Water Department Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorinefluoride

Source: Town of Walpole Water Department Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from Town of Walpole Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has completed a Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP) report for the Town of Walpole's water supply. The report contains information relative to land uses in the water supply areas of both the Mine Brook and School Meadow Brook aquifer wells, which are highly susceptible to potential contaminants.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chlorine
Fluoridation
Added at low levels per state or local public-health policy for dental health.
fluoride

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Town of Walpole Water Department Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

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
116
Detections
14
Latest sample
3/11/2024
Highest analyte
PFBA: 16 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 16 ppt
PFPeA 12 ppt
PFHxA 7 ppt
PFOA 4 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFOS 4 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFHpA 3 ppt

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) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

PFAS Substances Detected in This System

This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.

Substance Detected level EPA limit Status
PFAS6
Not yet EPA-regulated
15.5 ppt 20 ppt Below EPA limit
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Component of EPA Hazard Index — combined exposure assessed against unitless threshold of 1.0.
1.72 ppt No federal limit set
PFHxA
Not yet EPA-regulated
7.38 ppt No federal limit set
PFBA
Not yet EPA-regulated
130 ppt No federal limit set
PFPeA
Not yet EPA-regulated
120 ppt No federal limit set

In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →

Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by Town of Walpole Water Department.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.

Learn more about PFAS health effects and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Utility-reported lead service line presence and tap-sample lead level under federal LCRI requirements:

None reported
Lead Service Lines Reported
0.003 mg/L
Tap Sample Lead Level

Below federal action level (0.015 mg/L)

MassDEP reports utility-level presence flag and tap-sampling without per-line breakdown. Customers should inquire with the utility about service line material at a specific address.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Did not report any required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2022-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 24,070
Reported to Massachusetts

Source: MassDEP LCRR Service Line Inventory · Submitted 2024

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Notable events and violations

This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.

Notable events from the utility's CCR

These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.

Notable events from Town of Walpole Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
  • 2024 MANDATORY WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT POLICY effective May 1, 2024

ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Walpole Water Department safe to drink?
Walpole Water Department has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Walpole 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 Walpole Water Department serve?
Walpole Water Department serves approximately 24,070 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Walpole Water Department's water source?
Walpole Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Walpole Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0018 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Walpole Water Department's service area?
The Walpole Water Department service area has a median household income of $180,100. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Walpole Water Department get its water?
Walpole 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.

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 →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Walpole Water Department (EPA ID: MA4307000) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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