Franklin County, Massachusetts — public water systems

How does Franklin County compare with other Massachusetts counties?

Franklin County has the 8th-most active public water systems among the 33 counties listed for active Massachusetts systems in EPA records; among the 16 with 3 or more systems, the median has 104. Its systems report 58,894 people served in total, the 12th-largest county figure in the state and 0.6% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 521 people, well below the Massachusetts average of 6,275. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Franklin County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Franklin County's active systems draw on groundwater (105, 93%), surface water (4, 3.5%), purchased surface water (3, 2.7%) and purchased groundwater (1, 0.9%). Overall, 94% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 6.2% on surface water, compared with 88% and 12% across Massachusetts. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Greenfield Water Department, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Franklin County?

Franklin County's active systems break down as 26 community systems (23%), 18 non-transient non-community systems (16%) and 69 transient non-community systems (61%). 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. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (60%), local government (35%) and state government (4.4%).