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Public water system record

Dartmouth Water Division

Serves an area of Bristol County, MA that includes Smith Mills and Bliss Corner · 24,630 people served

Federal records show 10 health-based violations and 4 monitoring/reporting issues for Dartmouth Water Division in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) violation that EPA lists as archived, not resolved.

  • MA4072000
  • DARTMOUTH
  • MA
  • 24,630 served

System profile

Source water Purchased surface water
ZIP 02747
EPA system ID MA4072000

Verify this system on EPA ECHO →

Health-based violations, last 10 years
10
Resolved
1
Unresolved
0
Archived by EPA
9
Any acute record
No
Monitoring issues, last 10 years
4

Key facts

  • Dartmouth Water Division draws water from 14 wells.
  • Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by Massachusetts, October 2024.
  • Record on file since 2009, with 7 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
  • Lead pipe inventory: 15 lead and 164 unknown out of 9,250 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
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 220 Oct 1, 2021 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 220 Jul 1, 2021 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 220 Apr 1, 2021 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 220 Jul 1, 2020 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 220 Apr 1, 2020 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Treatment technique failure
 110 Dec 5, 2019 Resolved No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 220 Jul 1, 2019 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 220 Oct 1, 2017 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 220 Jul 1, 2017 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 220 Oct 1, 2016 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
ENTEROCOCCI
Monitoring and reporting
 Oct 2, 2024 Active
Enforcement action in place
ENTEROCOCCI
Monitoring and reporting
 Aug 18, 2020 Resolved
Public Notice
OTHER
 Jan 3, 2020 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule
RPT
 Nov 10, 2019 Resolved

Full record since 2009

EPA's records for Dartmouth Water Division go back to 2009. Before October 19, 2016 they list 7 health-based violations (3 resolved, 4 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and no monitoring or reporting violations.

Violations that began in Health-based Monitoring and reporting
2000s 1 0
2010 to October 18, 2016 6 0
October 19, 2016 to 2019 4 1
2020s 5 3

Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), began October 2016, Archived.

Show all 7 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
Contaminant Start date Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Oct 1, 2016 Archived
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Apr 1, 2015 Archived
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Jan 1, 2015 Archived
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Jul 1, 2013 Archived
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Nov 1, 2010 Resolved
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Oct 1, 2010 Resolved
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Dec 1, 2009 Resolved

Enforcement actions

Massachusetts regulators took 8 formal enforcement actions against Dartmouth Water Division between 2010 and 2024. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in October 2024.

Date By Action Violations covered
Oct 17, 2024 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: ENTEROCOCCI
Dec 15, 2021 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 3 violations (3 health-based): Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Oct 6, 2020 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: ENTEROCOCCI
Dec 14, 2016 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 6 violations (6 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Mar 18, 2014 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 6 violations (6 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Feb 18, 2011 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform
Feb 10, 2011 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform
Feb 25, 2010 Massachusetts Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform

What the violations mean

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

5 incidents

Disinfection byproduct levels exceeded the federal limit

Long-term TTHM exposure may increase bladder cancer risk

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)

4 incidents

Haloacetic acid byproducts exceeded the federal limit

Long-term exposure to HAAs may increase cancer risk

Revised Total Coliform Rule

1 incident

The system did not meet a requirement of the Revised Total Coliform Rule

Coliform and E. coli rules protect against bacteria in the distribution system

Where the water comes from

Dartmouth Water Division draws water from 14 wells. It also buys water from City of New Bedford Dpi.

Buys water from

Annual water quality report

Dartmouth Water Division 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