Public water system · CT1130011
ActivePortland Water Department
At a glance
Portland Water Department (PWSID CT1130011) is an active community water system in Middlesex County, Connecticut. It reports serving 5,010 people through 2,322 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
5,010
Service connections
2,322
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Portland Water Department compare with other water systems in Middlesex County?
By EPA's size categories, Portland Water Department is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Middlesex County has 277 active public water systems, and Portland Water Department is the 4th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 14 times the county average of 353 people per system, and accounts for 5.1% of the 97,777 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Connecticut, the 2,363 active systems average 1,247 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Portland Water Department is about 25% below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Connecticut has 481 active community water systems, 20% of the state's 2,363 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 52 Connecticut systems (2.2%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Portland Water Department?
EPA lists Portland Water Department as owned by a local government. The CT state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 45 of the 277 active systems in Middlesex County (16%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Portland Water Department have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2025. The violations listed here began between January 1993 and December 2025. By type: 5 monitoring and reporting, 4 contaminant level above the legal limit and 3 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (6 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-08-10 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2007-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2006-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2000-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1996-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1994-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Portland Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Portland Water Department?
Portland Water Department (PWSID CT1130011) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the CT state drinking water program.
How many people does Portland Water Department serve?
Portland Water Department reports serving 5,010 people through 2,322 service connections in Middlesex County, Connecticut.
Where does Portland Water Department get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Portland Water Department have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2025. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Portland Water Department's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the CT state drinking water program.
Where can I find Portland Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Portland Water Department must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Middlesex County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middletown Water Department | Middlesex | 41,019 | Community | Surface water |
| Cromwell Fire District Water Department | Middlesex | 14,316 | Community | Groundwater |
| Ctwc - Shoreline Region-Chester System | Middlesex | 5,030 | Community | Surface water |
| Connecticut Valley Hospital | Middlesex | 2,928 | Community | Surface water |
| Pratt & Whitney | Middlesex | 2,800 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Durham Center Division | Middlesex | 1,601 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Portland Water Department, PWSID CT1130011, Connecticut”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/connecticut/portland-water-department-ct1130011 (data as of October 1, 2026).