Current Noncompliance MA

Yarmouth Water Department

EPA ID: MA4351000 ยท 38,900 people served ยท 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Yarmouth Water Department (MA4351000): 1 unresolved EPA violation on record. Tallying the federal enforcement file for Yarmouth Water Department yields 1 open violation that has not been formally closed - each finding sits in the EPA database while the utility continues to deliver water to approximately 38,900 residents and works through the required corrective action process.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 76
Avg Safety Score
38,900
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0015 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
2
Contaminants Flagged
$479K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$78,796
Median Household Income
25,608
Service Area Population
5%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
78%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Yarmouth Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $78,796 and an estimated 25,608 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.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Yarmouth 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
0th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

44 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
26 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 63% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Yarmouth Water Department compares to EPA limits

Lead 1 mg/L (action level) (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level)
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults

What This Means For You

Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Contaminant 3002 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. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 1 exceeds state limits.

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†’

Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

C 2 violations
Harwich Water Department
39,144 people
B 0 violations
B 1 violation
D 1 violation
Holyoke Water Works
37,838 people
B 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 $533
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,133

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 $2,133 (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

Yarmouth Water Department (EPA ID: MA4351000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 38,900 people from groundwater sources.

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

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (76/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 3 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

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

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 0 resolved, 1 archived, 1 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
April 6, 2021 Contaminant 3002 Non-health-based Addressed (current)
January 1, 2021 Lead Non-health-based Archived

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Lead Inorganic 1 No
Contaminant 3002 Other Violation 1 No

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0015 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 Yarmouth Water Department (MA4351000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Yarmouth Water Department water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 1 current noncompliance record and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.

How many people does Yarmouth Water Department serve?

Yarmouth Water Department serves approximately 38,900 people across 3 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Yarmouth Water Department get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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
870
Detections
17
Latest sample
7/29/2025
Highest analyte
PFPeA: 59.4 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFPeA 59.4 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 40.6 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFBA 12.7 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHpA 7.7 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxS 3.1 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL

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 Yarmouth Water Department safe to drink?
Yarmouth 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 Yarmouth Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Lead, Contaminant 3002. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 2 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 Yarmouth Water Department serve?
Yarmouth Water Department serves approximately 38,900 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Yarmouth Water Department's water source?
Yarmouth Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Yarmouth Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0015 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Yarmouth Water Department's service area?
The Yarmouth Water Department service area has a median household income of $78,796. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Yarmouth Water Department get its water?
Yarmouth 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.). Yarmouth Water Department (MA): 2 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4351000/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ma4351000,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Yarmouth Water Department (MA): 2 EPA Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma4351000/}
}

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

Yarmouth Water Department (EPA ID: MA4351000) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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