Public water system · MA3178000
ActiveMelrose Water Division (MWRA)
At a glance
Melrose Water Division (MWRA) (PWSID MA3178000) is an active community water system in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 29,938 people through 8,639 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, 12 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2021.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
29,938
Service connections
8,639
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Melrose Water Division (MWRA) compare with other water systems in Middlesex County?
By EPA's size categories, Melrose Water Division (MWRA) is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Middlesex County has 204 active public water systems. Its population served is about 3.7 times the county average of 7,986 people per system, and accounts for 1.8% 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 Melrose Water Division (MWRA) is about 4.5 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 Melrose Water Division (MWRA)?
EPA lists Melrose 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 Melrose Water Division (MWRA) have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 12 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2021. The violations listed here began between January 1992 and November 2021. By type: 9 required treatment not met and 3 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (8 of them). EPA lists 7 as resolved, 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-11-01 | Required treatment not metLead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) · code 64 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Addressed |
| 2013-01-01 | Required treatment not metLead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) · code 64 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-01-01 | Required treatment not metLead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) · code 64 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | 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 |
| 1998-01-01 | 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, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1997-06-01 | 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 |
| 1993-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1993-01-01 | 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 |
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.
Melrose Water Division (MWRA): frequently asked questions
Who runs Melrose Water Division (MWRA)?
Melrose Water Division (MWRA) (PWSID MA3178000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Melrose Water Division (MWRA) serve?
Melrose Water Division (MWRA) reports serving 29,938 people through 8,639 service connections in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Where does Melrose 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 Melrose Water Division (MWRA) have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 12 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2021. 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 Melrose 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, 12 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2021. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Melrose Water Division (MWRA)'s water quality report?
As a community water system, Melrose 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 |
| Malden Water Division (MWRA) | Middlesex | 66,263 | 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, “Melrose Water Division (MWRA), PWSID MA3178000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/melrose-water-division-mwra-ma3178000 (data as of October 1, 2026).