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Public water system record

Somerville Water Dept. (MWRA)

Serves Somerville, Middlesex County, MA · 81,045 people served

Federal records show 1 health-based violation and 1 monitoring/reporting issue for Somerville Water Dept. (MWRA) in the last ten years, including an unresolved Lead and Copper Rule violation.

  • MA3274000
  • SOMERVILLE
  • MA
  • 81,045 served

System profile

Source water Purchased surface water
ZIP 02145
EPA system ID MA3274000

Verify this system on EPA ECHO →

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

Key facts

  • Somerville Water Dept. (MWRA) buys its water from MWRA.
  • Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by Massachusetts, April 2024.
  • Record on file since 1992, with 11 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
  • Lead pipe inventory: 101 lead and 50 unknown out of 15,109 service lines.

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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
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment technique failure
 350 Nov 1, 2019 Active
Enforcement action in place
 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, 2020 Active
Enforcement action in place

Full record since 1992

EPA's records for Somerville Water Dept. (MWRA) go back to 1992. Before October 19, 2016 they list 11 health-based violations (9 resolved, 2 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation.

Violations that began in Health-based Monitoring and reporting
1990s 5 1
2000s 5 0
2010 to October 18, 2016 1 0
October 19, 2016 to 2019 1 0
2020s 0 1

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

Show all 11 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
Contaminant Start date Status
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Nov 1, 2010 Resolved
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Oct 1, 2009 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment technique failure
 Jan 1, 2008 Resolved
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Sep 1, 2000 Archived
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Jun 1, 2000 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment technique failure
 Jan 1, 2000 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule
Treatment technique failure
 Jan 1, 1998 Resolved
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 9 formal enforcement actions against Somerville Water Dept. (MWRA) between 1993 and 2024. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in April 2024.

Date By Action Violations covered
Apr 1, 2024 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Lead and Copper Rule
Jul 22, 2021 Massachusetts Compliance order with a penalty 1 violation (1 health-based): Lead and Copper Rule
Dec 13, 2010 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform
Nov 10, 2009 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform
Jan 30, 2009 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Lead and Copper Rule
Mar 9, 2001 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Lead and Copper Rule
Mar 9, 1999 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Lead and Copper Rule
Jul 18, 1996 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Asbestos
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

1 incident

The 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

Somerville Water Dept. (MWRA) buys its water from MWRA. It lists no wells or intakes of its own.

Buys water from

Annual water quality report

Somerville 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