Water Quality: Wellesley, MA
3 water systems • 32,630 people served
Multiple Health ViolationsWater Quality Summary
Wellesley is served by 3 public water systems with a combined service population of 32,630 people, and has 7 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 4 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Wellesley's violation count is 78% below the national average for Massachusetts. Contaminants associated with violations include Contaminant 1039, Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli.
Contaminants Found
Broad category of chemicals formed during disinfection, associated with increased cancer risk and adverse reproductive effects.
Common source: Reaction of disinfectants (chlorine, ozone, chloramines) with organic matter
Causes gastrointestinal illness; certain strains (e.g., O157:H7) can cause severe kidney failure and death.
Common source: Fecal contamination from humans or animals entering the water supply
EPA limit: Zero (no E. coli permitted in drinking water)
Water Systems Serving Wellesley
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WELLESLEY WATER DIVISION | MA3317000 | Surface Water | 29,550 | 2 |
| WELLESLEY COLLEGE | MA3317001 | Groundwater | 3,000 | 3 |
| NORTHBROOK VILLAGE II | MA2028018 | Groundwater | 80 | 2 |
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.