Public water system · MA3165000
ActiveMalden Water Division (MWRA)
At a glance
Malden Water Division (MWRA) (PWSID MA3165000) is an active community water system in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 66,263 people through 11,855 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, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2022.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
66,263
Service connections
11,855
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Malden Water Division (MWRA) compare with other water systems in Middlesex County?
By EPA's size categories, Malden Water Division (MWRA) is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Middlesex County has 204 active public water systems, and Malden Water Division (MWRA) is the 6th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 8.3 times the county average of 7,986 people per system, and accounts for 4.1% 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 Malden Water Division (MWRA) is about 9.9 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. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 126 Massachusetts systems (7.7%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Malden Water Division (MWRA)?
EPA lists Malden Water Division (MWRA) 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 Malden Water Division (MWRA) have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2022. The violations listed here began between August 1995 and June 2022. By type: 5 contaminant level above the legal limit, 4 required treatment not met, 2 monitoring and reporting and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (5 of them). EPA lists 5 as archived, 4 as resolved, 2 as addressed and 1 as unaddressed. 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. 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. Addressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is covered by formal enforcement. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-06-08 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2019-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Addressed |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Addressed |
| 2016-03-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique No Certif. Operator · code 12 | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0400 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2005-07-01 | Required treatment not metLead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) · code 64 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1999-01-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1997-07-01 | 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 metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1996-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1995-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1995-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1995-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | 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.
Malden Water Division (MWRA): frequently asked questions
Who runs Malden Water Division (MWRA)?
Malden Water Division (MWRA) (PWSID MA3165000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Malden Water Division (MWRA) serve?
Malden Water Division (MWRA) reports serving 66,263 people through 11,855 service connections in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Where does Malden Water Division (MWRA) 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 Malden Water Division (MWRA) have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2022. 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 Malden Water Division (MWRA)'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, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2022. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Malden Water Division (MWRA)'s water quality report?
As a community water system, Malden Water Division (MWRA) 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 |
| Waltham Water Department | Middlesex | 65,218 | 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, “Malden Water Division (MWRA), PWSID MA3165000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/malden-water-division-mwra-ma3165000 (data as of October 1, 2026).