Public water system · MA3252000
ActiveRockport Water Dept
At a glance
Rockport Water Dept (PWSID MA3252000) is an active community water system in Essex County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 10,000 people through 3,782 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2016.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
10,000
Service connections
3,782
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Rockport Water Dept compare with other water systems in Essex County?
By EPA's size categories, Rockport Water Dept is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Essex County has 67 active public water systems. Its population served is about 25% below the county average of 13,412 people per system, and accounts for 1.1% 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 Rockport Water Dept is about 49% 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. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 76 Massachusetts systems (4.6%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Rockport Water Dept?
EPA lists Rockport 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. 39 of the 67 active systems in Essex County (58%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Rockport Water Dept have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2016. The violations listed here began between April 1991 and July 2016. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting, 3 required treatment not met, 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (5 of them). EPA lists 6 as archived and 3 as resolved. 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.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 2005-10-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique Precursor Removal · code 46 | Carbon, totalcode 2920 | Yes | Archived |
| 1997-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1996-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1996-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1994-01-01 | Required treatment not metOCCT/SOWT Study/Recommendation · code 57 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1994-01-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1991-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
All 9 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.
Rockport Water Dept: frequently asked questions
Who runs Rockport Water Dept?
Rockport Water Dept (PWSID MA3252000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Rockport Water Dept serve?
Rockport Water Dept reports serving 10,000 people through 3,782 service connections in Essex County, Massachusetts.
Where does Rockport Water Dept get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Rockport Water Dept have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2016. 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 Rockport 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. EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2016. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Rockport Water Dept's water quality report?
As a community water system, Rockport 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 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, “Rockport Water Dept, PWSID MA3252000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/rockport-water-dept-ma3252000 (data as of October 1, 2026).