Tap Truth EPA drinking water records, in plain English

Public water system record

Newburyport Water Department

Serves Newburyport, Essex County, MA · 20,335 people served

Federal records show 1 health-based violation and 2 monitoring/reporting issues for Newburyport Water Department in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) violation that EPA lists as archived, not resolved.

  • MA3206000
  • NEWBURYPORT
  • MA
  • 20,335 served

System profile

Source water Surface water
ZIP 01950
EPA system ID MA3206000

Verify this system on EPA ECHO →

Health-based violations, last 10 years
1
Resolved
0
Unresolved
0
Archived by EPA
1
Any acute record
No
Monitoring issues, last 10 years
2

Key facts

  • Newburyport Water Department draws water from 2 wells and 3 surface water intakes.
  • Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by Massachusetts, November 2024.
  • Record on file since 1992, with 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
  • Lead pipe inventory: 2 lead and 5,052 unknown out of 8,807 service lines.

Check whether Newburyport Water Department serves your address

Address suggestions by Mapbox

Health-based violations

Since October 2016

Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.

Contaminant Rule family Start date Status Acute
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 220 Jul 1, 2018 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No

Monitoring and reporting issues

Since October 2016

Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.

Issue Start date Status
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2022 Active
Enforcement action in place
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2018 Active
Enforcement action in place

Full record since 1992

EPA's records for Newburyport Water Department go back to 1992. Before October 19, 2016 they list 2 health-based violations (2 resolved) and 31 monitoring or reporting violations.

Violations that began in Health-based Monitoring and reporting
1990s 1 1
2000s 0 30
2010 to October 18, 2016 1 0
October 19, 2016 to 2019 1 1
2020s 0 1

Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform, began October 2010, Resolved.

Show all 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
Contaminant Start date Status
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Oct 1, 2010 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment technique failure
 Jul 1, 1993 Resolved

Enforcement actions

Massachusetts regulators took 5 formal enforcement actions against Newburyport Water Department between 2009 and 2024. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in November 2024.

Date By Action Violations covered
Nov 7, 2024 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Lead and Copper Rule
Feb 1, 2022 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Lead and Copper Rule
Sep 5, 2018 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Nov 19, 2010 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform
Nov 25, 2009 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 30 violations: Pentachlorophenol, Toxaphene, 2,4,5-TP, BHC-GAMMA, Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)

What the violations mean

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

1 incident

Disinfection byproduct levels exceeded the federal limit

Long-term TTHM exposure may increase bladder cancer risk

Where the water comes from

Newburyport Water Department draws water from 2 wells and 3 surface water intakes. 1 other community water system buys water from Newburyport Water Department.

Community systems that buy water from it

Annual water quality report

Newburyport 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.

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