Public water system · MA3168000
ActiveMarblehead Water Dept. (MWRA)
At a glance
Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA) (PWSID MA3168000) is an active community water system in Essex County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 20,441 people through 8,122 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in January 1999.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
20,441
Service connections
8,122
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA) compare with other water systems in Essex County?
By EPA's size categories, Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA) is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Essex County has 67 active public water systems. Its population served is about 52% above the county average of 13,412 people per system, and accounts for 2.3% of the 898,585 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 Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA) is about 3 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 Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA)?
EPA lists Marblehead Water Dept. (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. 39 of the 67 active systems in Essex County (58%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA) have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in January 1999. The violations listed here began between July 1991 and January 1999. By type: 4 required treatment not met and 3 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (3 of them). EPA lists 4 as archived and 3 as resolved. 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.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-01-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1995-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1994-12-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1994-01-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-01-01 | Required treatment not metFailure to Filter (SWTR) · code 42 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Archived |
| 1992-01-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1991-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
All 7 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.
Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA): frequently asked questions
Who runs Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA)?
Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA) (PWSID MA3168000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA) serve?
Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA) reports serving 20,441 people through 8,122 service connections in Essex County, Massachusetts.
Where does Marblehead Water Dept. (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 Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA) have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in January 1999. 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 Marblehead Water Dept. (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. EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; all are health-based, and the most recent began in January 1999. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA)'s water quality report?
As a community water system, Marblehead Water Dept. (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 Essex County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn Water and Sewer Comm | Essex | 101,253 | Community | Surface water |
| Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board | Essex | 90,330 | Community | Surface water |
| Lawrence Water Works | Essex | 89,143 | Community | Surface water |
| Haverhill Water Dept | Essex | 61,277 | Community | Surface water |
| Peabody Water Dept. | Essex | 54,481 | Community | Surface water |
| Methuen Water Dept | Essex | 53,059 | Community | 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, “Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA), PWSID MA3168000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/marblehead-water-dept-mwra-ma3168000 (data as of October 1, 2026).