Public water system record
Sterling Water Department
Serves an area of Worcester County, MA · 6,754 people served
Federal records show 1 health-based violation and 2 monitoring/reporting issues for Sterling Water Department in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Lead and Copper Rule violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 1
- Resolved
- 1
- Unresolved
- 0
- Any acute record
- No
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 2
Key facts
- Sterling Water Department draws water from 5 wells.
- Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by Massachusetts, March 2026.
- Record on file since 1993, with 10 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 166 unknown out of 2,474 service lines.
Check whether Sterling Water Department serves your address
Health-based violations
Since October 2016Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.
| Contaminant | Rule family | Start date | Status | Acute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
350 | Feb 17, 2024 | Resolved | No |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2026 |
Active
Enforcement action in place
|
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Dec 30, 2018 | Resolved |
Full record since 1993
EPA's records for Sterling Water Department go back to 1993. Before October 19, 2016 they list 10 health-based violations (5 resolved, 5 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and 96 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 63 |
| 2000s | 4 | 30 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 1 | 3 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020s | 1 | 1 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform, began July 2010, Resolved.
Show all 10 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Aug 1, 2006 | Archived |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 2006 | Archived |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jun 1, 2004 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Feb 1, 2004 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform (acute)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Sep 28, 1999 | Archived |
|
Total Coliform (acute)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Sep 1, 1999 | Archived |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Nov 1, 1996 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform (acute)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 1996 | Archived |
|
Total Coliform (acute)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Oct 1, 1995 | Resolved |
Enforcement actions
Massachusetts regulators took 16 formal enforcement actions against Sterling Water Department and issued 2 boil water orders between 1994 and 2026. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in March 2026.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2026 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation: Lead and Copper Rule |
| Feb 26, 2024 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation (1 health-based): Lead and Copper Rule |
| Apr 5, 2019 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation: Lead and Copper Rule |
| Aug 30, 2011 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation: Consumer Confidence Rule |
| Sep 20, 2010 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 2 violations (1 health-based): Total Coliform |
| Jul 21, 2010 | Massachusetts | Boil water order | 2 violations (1 health-based): Total Coliform |
| Mar 1, 2010 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation: Lead and Copper Rule |
| Feb 22, 2010 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 22 violations: 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, Nitrate, Xylenes, Total, Carbon tetrachloride |
| Dec 11, 2009 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation: Consumer Confidence Rule |
| Nov 5, 2009 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 2 violations: Total Coliform |
| Oct 10, 2006 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 4 violations (2 health-based): Total Coliform |
| Dec 30, 2004 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 2 violations: Total Coliform |
| Sep 23, 2004 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 2 violations (2 health-based): Total Coliform |
| Sep 27, 1999 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform |
| Mar 31, 1997 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 21 violations: 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, DICHLOROMETHANE, o-Dichlorobenzene, p-Dichlorobenzene |
| Oct 28, 1995 | Massachusetts | Boil water order | 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform |
| Dec 22, 1994 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 21 violations: CHLOROBENZENE, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene |
| May 9, 1994 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 21 violations: p-Dichlorobenzene, Vinyl chloride, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, 1,2-Dichloroethane |
What the violations mean
Lead and Copper Rule
1 incidentThe system did not complete a treatment step or action that the Lead and Copper Rule requires (a treatment technique violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Where the water comes from
Sterling Water Department draws water from 5 wells.
Annual water quality report
Sterling Water Department must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.
Where the state allows it, systems serving fewer than 10,000 people may publish the report in a local newspaper or news site instead of mailing it, and must provide a copy on request.
Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search
Testing your own water
To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by Massachusetts.
Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells