Public water system · MA3246000
ActiveReading Water Department (MWRA)
At a glance
Reading Water Department (MWRA) (PWSID MA3246000) is an active community water system in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 26,262 people through 8,392 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 3 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
26,262
Service connections
8,392
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Reading Water Department (MWRA) compare with other water systems in Middlesex County?
By EPA's size categories, Reading Water Department (MWRA) is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Middlesex County has 204 active public water systems. Its population served is about 3.3 times the county average of 7,986 people per system, and accounts for 1.6% 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 Reading Water Department (MWRA) is about 3.9 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 Reading Water Department (MWRA)?
EPA lists Reading 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. 66 of the 204 active systems in Middlesex County (32%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Reading Water Department (MWRA) have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 3 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023. The violations listed here began between February 1995 and June 2023. By type: 2 monitoring and reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminants or rules involved are Nitrite, Revised Total Coliform Rule and Total coliform bacteria (TCR). EPA lists 3 as archived. 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.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitritecode 1041 | No | Archived |
| 2019-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) · code 1A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | Yes | Archived |
| 1995-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
All 3 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.
Reading Water Department (MWRA): frequently asked questions
Who runs Reading Water Department (MWRA)?
Reading Water Department (MWRA) (PWSID MA3246000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Reading Water Department (MWRA) serve?
Reading Water Department (MWRA) reports serving 26,262 people through 8,392 service connections in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Where does Reading 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 Reading Water Department (MWRA) have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 3 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023. 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 Reading 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. EPA's records list 3 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Reading Water Department (MWRA)'s water quality report?
As a community water system, Reading 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 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, “Reading Water Department (MWRA), PWSID MA3246000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/reading-water-department-mwra-ma3246000 (data as of October 1, 2026).