Public water system · MA3262000
ActiveSaugus Water Dept. (MWRA)
At a glance
Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA) (PWSID MA3262000) is an active community water system in Essex County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 27,844 people through 9,733 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, 10 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 1999.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
27,844
Service connections
9,733
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA) compare with other water systems in Essex County?
By EPA's size categories, Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA) is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Essex County has 67 active public water systems. Its population served is about twice the county average of 13,412 people per system, and accounts for 3.1% 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 Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA) is about 4.2 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 Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA)?
EPA lists Saugus Water Dept. (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. 39 of the 67 active systems in Essex County (58%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA) have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 10 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 1999. The violations listed here began between February 1981 and January 1999. By type: 5 required treatment not met, 5 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 monitoring and reporting and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (5 of them). EPA lists 8 as archived and 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-01-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1997-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1997-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1997-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1995-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1995-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Asbestoscode 1094 | No | Archived |
| 1994-01-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1993-01-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-01-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1992-01-01 | Required treatment not metFailure to Filter (SWTR) · code 42 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Archived |
| 1981-02-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherNotification, Public · code 06 | Not reported | No | Archived |
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.
Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA): frequently asked questions
Who runs Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA)?
Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA) (PWSID MA3262000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA) serve?
Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA) reports serving 27,844 people through 9,733 service connections in Essex County, Massachusetts.
Where does Saugus Water Dept. (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 Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA) have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 10 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 1999. 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 Saugus Water Dept. (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, 10 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 1999. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA)'s water quality report?
As a community water system, Saugus Water Dept. (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 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, “Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA), PWSID MA3262000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/saugus-water-dept-mwra-ma3262000 (data as of October 1, 2026).