Public water system · MA3213000
ActiveNorth Reading Water Dept.
At a glance
North Reading Water Dept. (PWSID MA3213000) is an active community water system in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 16,379 people through 4,962 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, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2020.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
16,379
Service connections
4,962
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does North Reading Water Dept. compare with other water systems in Middlesex County?
By EPA's size categories, North Reading Water Dept. is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Middlesex County has 204 active public water systems. Its population served is about twice the county average of 7,986 people per system, and accounts for 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 North Reading Water Dept. is about 144% above 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 North Reading Water Dept.?
EPA lists North Reading Water Dept. 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 North Reading Water Dept. have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2020. The violations listed here began between July 2007 and July 2020. By type: 5 contaminant level above the legal limit, 5 monitoring and reporting, 1 reporting and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (4 of them). EPA lists 7 as archived, 4 as resolved and 1 as addressed. 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.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Archived |
| 2020-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Archived |
| 2020-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2019-08-01 | ReportingReporting, Assessment Forms (RTCR) · code 4A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Addressed |
| 2019-08-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique, Level 1 Assessment (RTCR) · code 2A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Radium-226code 4020 | No | Archived |
| 2014-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium)code 4000 | No | Archived |
| 2014-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Archived |
| 2013-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2013-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Atrazinecode 2050 | No | Archived |
| 2007-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Glyphosatecode 2034 | No | 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.
North Reading Water Dept.: frequently asked questions
Who runs North Reading Water Dept.?
North Reading Water Dept. (PWSID MA3213000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does North Reading Water Dept. serve?
North Reading Water Dept. reports serving 16,379 people through 4,962 service connections in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Where does North Reading Water Dept. 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 North Reading Water Dept. have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2020. 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 North Reading Water Dept.'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, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2020. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find North Reading Water Dept.'s water quality report?
As a community water system, North Reading Water Dept. 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, “North Reading Water Dept., PWSID MA3213000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/north-reading-water-dept-ma3213000 (data as of October 1, 2026).