Public water system · MA3014000
ActiveAshland Water and Sewer Dept.
At a glance
Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. (PWSID MA3014000) is an active community water system in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 18,832 people through 7,117 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023.
This page covers its drinking water system only; sewer and wastewater service are not part of EPA's drinking water records.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
18,832
Service connections
7,117
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. compare with other water systems in Middlesex County?
By EPA's size categories, Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Middlesex County has 204 active public water systems. Its population served is about 136% above the county average of 7,986 people per system, and accounts for 1.2% of the 1,629,099 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 Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. is about 181% above 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 1,354 Massachusetts systems (83%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Ashland Water and Sewer Dept.?
EPA lists Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. 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. 66 of the 204 active systems in Middlesex County (32%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023. The violations listed here began between May 1996 and June 2023. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting, 3 contaminant level above the legal limit and 2 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (5 of them). EPA lists 6 as resolved, 5 as archived and 1 as addressed. 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. Addressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Addressed |
| 2016-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium)code 4000 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2012-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Tetrachloroethylenecode 2987 | No | Archived |
| 1998-01-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1997-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Archived |
| 1997-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1997-01-01 | Required treatment not metOCCT/SOWT Treatment Installation/Demonstration · code 58 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1996-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1996-05-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
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.
Ashland Water and Sewer Dept.: frequently asked questions
Who runs Ashland Water and Sewer Dept.?
Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. (PWSID MA3014000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. serve?
Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. reports serving 18,832 people through 7,117 service connections in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Where does Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023. 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 Ashland Water and Sewer Dept.'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, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Ashland Water and Sewer Dept.'s water quality report?
As a community water system, Ashland Water and Sewer Dept. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell Regional Water Utility | Middlesex | 120,418 | Community | Surface water |
| Cambridge Water Department | Middlesex | 118,214 | Community | Surface water |
| Newton Water Dept. (MWRA) | Middlesex | 88,931 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Somerville Water Dept. (MWRA) | Middlesex | 81,045 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Framingham Water Dept. (MWRA) | Middlesex | 72,362 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Malden Water Division (MWRA) | Middlesex | 66,263 | Community | Purchased surface water |
Related pages
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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, “Ashland Water and Sewer Dept., PWSID MA3014000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/ashland-water-and-sewer-dept-ma3014000 (data as of October 1, 2026).