Public water system · MA1256000
ActiveRussell Water Dept
At a glance
Russell Water Dept (PWSID MA1256000) is an active community water system in Hampden County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 1,228 people through 319 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2022.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,228
Service connections
319
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Russell Water Dept compare with other water systems in Hampden County?
By EPA's size categories, Russell Water Dept is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Hampden County has 115 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 3,821 people per system, and accounts for 0.3% of the 439,404 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 Russell Water Dept is well below 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 1,354 Massachusetts systems (83%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Russell Water Dept?
EPA lists Russell 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. 31 of the 115 active systems in Hampden County (27%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Russell Water Dept have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2022. The violations listed here began between November 2012 and July 2022. By type: 5 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 5 contaminant level above the legal limit and 2 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (6 of them). EPA lists 8 as resolved, 3 as addressed and 1 as archived. 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. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Addressed |
| 2015-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Addressed |
| 2015-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Addressed |
| 2014-12-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-12-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, State · code 05 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 2014-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2012-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | 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.
Russell Water Dept: frequently asked questions
Who runs Russell Water Dept?
Russell Water Dept (PWSID MA1256000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Russell Water Dept serve?
Russell Water Dept reports serving 1,228 people through 319 service connections in Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Where does Russell Water Dept get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Russell Water Dept have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2022. 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 Russell 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, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2022. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Russell Water Dept's water quality report?
As a community water system, Russell 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 Hampden County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Water and Sewer Commission | Hampden | 169,170 | Community | Surface water |
| Chicopee Water Dept (MWRA) | Hampden | 55,560 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Westfield Dpwwater Division | Hampden | 41,094 | Community | Surface water |
| Holyoke Water Works | Hampden | 37,838 | Community | Surface water |
| West Springfield Dpw Water Division | Hampden | 28,835 | Community | Groundwater |
| Agawam Water Department | Hampden | 28,692 | 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, “Russell Water Dept, PWSID MA1256000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/russell-water-dept-ma1256000 (data as of October 1, 2026).