Public water system · MA3196000
ActiveNahant Water Dept. (MWRA)
At a glance
Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA) (PWSID MA3196000) is an active community water system in Essex County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 3,334 people through 1,972 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, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2021.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
3,334
Service connections
1,972
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA) compare with other water systems in Essex County?
By EPA's size categories, Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA) is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Essex County has 67 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 13,412 people per system, and accounts for 0.4% 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 Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA) is about half of 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 Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA)?
EPA lists Nahant 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 Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA) have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2021. The violations listed here began between January 1992 and January 2021. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting, 4 required treatment not met and 4 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (7 of them). EPA lists 5 as resolved, 5 as archived, 1 as addressed and 1 as unaddressed. 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. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Addressed |
| 2015-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2000-01-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | 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 |
| 1995-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1995-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | 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 |
| 1993-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1992-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1992-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Unaddressed |
| 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.
Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA): frequently asked questions
Who runs Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA)?
Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA) (PWSID MA3196000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA) serve?
Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA) reports serving 3,334 people through 1,972 service connections in Essex County, Massachusetts.
Where does Nahant 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 Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA) have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 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 Nahant 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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 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 Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA)'s water quality report?
As a community water system, Nahant 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, “Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA), PWSID MA3196000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/nahant-water-dept-mwra-ma3196000 (data as of October 1, 2026).