Public water system · MA2215000
ActiveNorthborough Water Department (MWRA)
At a glance
Northborough Water Department (MWRA) (PWSID MA2215000) is an active community water system in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 13,551 people through 4,283 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, none is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2010.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
13,551
Service connections
4,283
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Northborough Water Department (MWRA) compare with other water systems in Worcester County?
By EPA's size categories, Northborough Water Department (MWRA) is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Worcester County has 346 active public water systems. Its population served is about 6.1 times the county average of 2,239 people per system, and accounts for 1.7% of the 774,523 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 Northborough Water Department (MWRA) is about twice 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 Northborough Water Department (MWRA)?
EPA lists Northborough Water Department (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. 80 of the 346 active systems in Worcester County (23%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Northborough Water Department (MWRA) have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2010. The violations listed here began between October 2010 and October 2010. By type: 12 monitoring and reporting. The contaminants or rules involved are 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), Diquat, Simazine and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total. EPA lists 12 as resolved. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)code 2931 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Diquatcode 2032 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Simazinecode 2037 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), totalcode 2383 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 2,3,7,8-TCDD (dioxin)code 2063 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Endothallcode 2033 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Heptachlor epoxidecode 2067 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Chlordanecode 2959 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Pentachlorophenolcode 2326 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Oxamylcode 2036 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Ethylene dibromide (EDB)code 2946 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Glyphosatecode 2034 | No | Resolved |
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.
Northborough Water Department (MWRA): frequently asked questions
Who runs Northborough Water Department (MWRA)?
Northborough Water Department (MWRA) (PWSID MA2215000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Northborough Water Department (MWRA) serve?
Northborough Water Department (MWRA) reports serving 13,551 people through 4,283 service connections in Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Where does Northborough Water Department (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 Northborough Water Department (MWRA) have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2010. 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 Northborough Water Department (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, none is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2010. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Northborough Water Department (MWRA)'s water quality report?
As a community water system, Northborough Water Department (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 Worcester County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester Dpwp, Water Supply Division | Worcester | 206,518 | Community | Surface water |
| Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply | Worcester | 41,946 | Community | Surface water |
| Leominster Water Division | Worcester | 41,683 | Community | Surface water |
| Shrewsbury Water Department | Worcester | 38,325 | Community | Groundwater |
| Milford Water Department | Worcester | 30,379 | Community | Surface water |
| Westborough Water Department | Worcester | 21,567 | 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, “Northborough Water Department (MWRA), PWSID MA2215000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/northborough-water-department-mwra-ma2215000 (data as of October 1, 2026).