Water Quality: Worcester, MA
6 water systems • 206,927 people served
Some ConcernsWater Quality Summary
Worcester is served by 6 public water systems with a combined service population of 206,927 people, and has 44 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 3 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Worcester's violation count is 37% above the national average for Massachusetts. Contaminants associated with violations include Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli, Total Organic Carbon.
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)
Not a direct health risk but reacts with disinfectants to form carcinogenic byproducts such as trihalomethanes.
Common source: Decaying plant material, algae, soil organic matter in source water
EPA limit: Treatment technique (must reduce TOC based on source water level)
Water Systems Serving Worcester
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION | MA2348000 | Surface Water | 206,518 | 13 |
| ROCKWOOD MEADOWS | MA2303004 | Groundwater | 110 | 2 |
| TRAIL RIDGE CONDOMINIUMS | MA2125016 | Groundwater | 104 | 4 |
| PINE HILL CONDOMINIUM | MA2002010 | Groundwater | 95 | 12 |
| BOLTON COUNTRY MANOR | MA2034027 | Groundwater | 60 | 5 |
| HUBBARDSTON HOUSE APARTMENTS | MA2140010 | Groundwater | 40 | 8 |
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.