Public water system record
Medford Water Dept. (MWRA)
Serves Medford, Middlesex County, MA · 61,700 people served
Federal records show 2 health-based violations and 1 monitoring/reporting issue for Medford Water Dept. (MWRA) in the last ten years, including an unresolved Lead and Copper Rule violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 2
- Resolved
- 1
- Unresolved
- 1
- Any acute record
- No
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 1
Key facts
- Medford Water Dept. (MWRA) buys its water from MWRA.
- Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order with a penalty by Massachusetts, May 2025.
- Record on file since 1992, with 7 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 5,128 lead and 4,657 unknown out of 14,683 service lines.
Check whether Medford Water Dept. (MWRA) 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 | Nov 1, 2023 |
Active
Enforcement action in place
|
No |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
350 | Jul 1, 2023 | 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, 2018 |
Active
Enforcement action in place
|
Full record since 1992
EPA's records for Medford Water Dept. (MWRA) go back to 1992. Before October 19, 2016 they list 7 health-based violations (4 resolved, 3 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7 | 0 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 0 | 1 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020s | 2 | 0 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Lead and Copper Rule, began January 1999, Resolved.
Show all 7 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Jan 1, 1999 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Oct 1, 1996 | Archived |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Sep 1, 1996 | Archived |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Jan 1, 1994 | Resolved |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Jan 1, 1993 | Resolved |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Jan 1, 1992 | Archived |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Jan 1, 1992 | Resolved |
Enforcement actions
Massachusetts regulators took 5 formal enforcement actions against Medford Water Dept. (MWRA) between 1993 and 2025. The most recent was a compliance order with a penalty in May 2025.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2025 | Massachusetts | Compliance order with a penalty | 1 violation (1 health-based): Lead and Copper Rule |
| Jan 19, 2024 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation (1 health-based): Lead and Copper Rule |
| Feb 10, 2023 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation: Lead and Copper Rule |
| Feb 10, 2000 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation (1 health-based): Lead and Copper Rule |
| Jun 29, 1993 | Massachusetts | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation (1 health-based): Surface Water Treatment Rule |
What the violations mean
Lead and Copper Rule
2 incidentsThe 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 each of these violations.
Where the water comes from
Medford Water Dept. (MWRA) buys its water from MWRA. It lists no wells or intakes of its own. 1 smaller public system such as schools, businesses or campgrounds buys water from Medford Water Dept. (MWRA).
Buys water from
- MWRA Chelsea, MA
Annual water quality report
Medford Water Dept. (MWRA) 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.
Systems serving 10,000 or more people must mail or deliver the report to every customer, and from 2027 they must send it twice a year.
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