Public water system · MA1279000
ActiveSouthwick Water Dept
At a glance
Southwick Water Dept (PWSID MA1279000) is an active community water system in Hampden County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 7,669 people through 2,744 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, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2012.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
7,669
Service connections
2,744
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Southwick Water Dept compare with other water systems in Hampden County?
By EPA's size categories, Southwick Water Dept is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Hampden County has 115 active public water systems. Its population served is about twice the county average of 3,821 people per system, and accounts for 1.7% 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 Southwick Water Dept is about 14% 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. 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 Southwick Water Dept?
EPA lists Southwick 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 Southwick Water Dept have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2012. The violations listed here began between November 2005 and November 2012. By type: 8 contaminant level above the legal limit and 4 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (10 of them). EPA lists 10 as archived and 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 2012-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 2009-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 2009-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 2008-12-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 2008-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 2007-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 2007-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 2005-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | 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.
Southwick Water Dept: frequently asked questions
Who runs Southwick Water Dept?
Southwick Water Dept (PWSID MA1279000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Southwick Water Dept serve?
Southwick Water Dept reports serving 7,669 people through 2,744 service connections in Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Where does Southwick Water Dept 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 Southwick Water Dept have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2012. 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 Southwick 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, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2012. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Southwick Water Dept's water quality report?
As a community water system, Southwick 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, “Southwick Water Dept, PWSID MA1279000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/southwick-water-dept-ma1279000 (data as of October 1, 2026).