Public water system · MA1008000
ActiveAmherst Dpw Water Division
At a glance
Amherst Dpw Water Division (PWSID MA1008000) is an active community water system in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 39,263 people through 6,437 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
39,263
Service connections
6,437
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Amherst Dpw Water Division compare with other water systems in Hampshire County?
By EPA's size categories, Amherst Dpw Water Division is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Hampshire County has 94 active public water systems, and Amherst Dpw Water Division is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 25 times the county average of 1,556 people per system, and accounts for 27% of the 146,285 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Massachusetts, the 1,636 active systems average 6,275 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Amherst Dpw Water Division is about 5.9 times 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. Massachusetts has 531 active community water systems, 32% of the state's 1,636 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 76 Massachusetts systems (4.6%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Amherst Dpw Water Division?
EPA lists Amherst Dpw Water Division as owned by a local government. The MA state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 24 of the 94 active systems in Hampshire County (26%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Amherst Dpw Water Division have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 2024. The violations listed here began between May 2008 and September 2024. By type: 5 contaminant level above the legal limit, 4 monitoring and reporting, 1 required treatment not met and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (5 of them). EPA lists 8 as resolved and 3 as archived. 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. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) · code 25 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) · code 38 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | No | Archived |
| 2015-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitritecode 1041 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2008-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 2008-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
All 11 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.
Amherst Dpw Water Division: frequently asked questions
Who runs Amherst Dpw Water Division?
Amherst Dpw Water Division (PWSID MA1008000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Amherst Dpw Water Division serve?
Amherst Dpw Water Division reports serving 39,263 people through 6,437 service connections in Hampshire County, Massachusetts.
Where does Amherst Dpw Water Division get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Amherst Dpw Water Division have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 2024. 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 Amherst Dpw Water Division'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. EPA's records list 11 violations for this system; 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in September 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Amherst Dpw Water Division's water quality report?
As a community water system, Amherst Dpw Water Division 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 Hampshire County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton Water Division | Hampshire | 29,571 | Community | Surface water |
| Easthampton Water Dept | Hampshire | 16,211 | Community | Groundwater |
| South Hadley Fd #1 (MWRA) | Hampshire | 14,800 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Ware Water Dept | Hampshire | 10,066 | Community | Groundwater |
| South Hadley Fire District #2 Water Dept | Hampshire | 6,200 | Community | Groundwater |
| Southampton Water Dept | Hampshire | 4,853 | Community | Purchased groundwater under influence |
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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, “Amherst Dpw Water Division, PWSID MA1008000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/amherst-dpw-water-division-ma1008000 (data as of October 1, 2026).