Water Quality: Great Barrington, MA
3 water systems • 6,266 people served
Multiple Health ViolationsWater Quality Summary
Great Barrington is served by 3 public water systems with a combined service population of 6,266 people, and has 113 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 13 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Great Barrington's violation count is 253% above the national average for Massachusetts. Contaminants associated with violations include Chlorine, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
Contaminants Found
Eye and nose irritation at high levels; long-term exposure above the MCL may cause liver and kidney damage.
Common source: Water treatment disinfectant added to kill harmful microorganisms
EPA limit: 4.0 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level)
Haloacetic acids are associated with increased cancer risk and potential reproductive and developmental effects.
Common source: Reaction of chlorine disinfectants with organic matter in treated water
EPA limit: 0.060 mg/L (60 ppb)
Water Systems Serving Great Barrington
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GREAT BARRINGTON FIRE DIST | MA1113000 | Groundwater | 4,375 | 86 |
| HOUSATONIC WATER WORKS | MA1113003 | Surface Water | 1,391 | 24 |
| BARD COLLEGE AT SIMONS ROCK | MA1113017 | Groundwater | 500 | 3 |
Concerned About Your Water?
A home water filter can remove common contaminants. NSF-certified filters are tested against EPA standards.
Consider a reverse osmosis system for comprehensive filtration or a carbon filter for basic improvement.
Other Cities in Massachusetts
Data Sources
Drinking water violation data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Data includes all recorded violations for active community water systems.