Plymouth County, Massachusetts — public water systems

How does Plymouth County compare with other Massachusetts counties?

Plymouth County has the 5th-most active public water systems among the 33 counties listed for active Massachusetts systems in EPA records; among the 16 with 3 or more systems, the median has 104. Its systems report 573,676 people served in total, the 8th-largest county figure in the state and 5.6% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 4,447 people, about 29% below the Massachusetts average of 6,275. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Plymouth County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Plymouth County's active systems draw on groundwater (106, 82%), purchased groundwater (11, 8.5%), purchased surface water (6, 4.7%) and surface water (4, 3.1%). Overall, 92% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 7.8% on surface water, compared with 88% and 12% across Massachusetts. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Brockton Water Department, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Plymouth County?

Plymouth County's active systems break down as 45 community systems (35%), 21 non-transient non-community systems (16%) and 63 transient non-community systems (49%). 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. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (66%), local government (29%), state government (4.7%) and federal government (0.8%).