Public water system · MA2282000
ActiveSterling Water Department
At a glance
Sterling Water Department (PWSID MA2282000) is an active community water system in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It reports serving 6,715 people through 2,487 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, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
6,715
Service connections
2,487
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Sterling Water Department compare with other water systems in Worcester County?
By EPA's size categories, Sterling Water Department is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Worcester County has 346 active public water systems. Its population served is about 200% above the county average of 2,239 people per system, and accounts for 0.9% of the 774,523 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 Sterling Water Department is roughly in line with 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 Sterling Water Department?
EPA lists Sterling Water Department 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. 80 of the 346 active systems in Worcester County (23%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Sterling Water Department have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026. The violations listed here began between October 2009 and January 2026. By type: 9 monitoring and reporting, 1 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 Lead and Copper Rule (3 of them). EPA lists 11 as resolved and 1 as addressed. 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.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Addressed |
| 2024-02-17 | Required treatment not metOCCT/SOWT Treatment Installation/Demonstration · code 58 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2018-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | o-Dichlorobenzenecode 2968 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Ethylbenzenecode 2992 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | p-Dichlorobenzenecode 2969 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Benzenecode 2990 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Vinyl chloridecode 2976 | No | 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.
Sterling Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Sterling Water Department?
Sterling Water Department (PWSID MA2282000) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MA state drinking water program.
How many people does Sterling Water Department serve?
Sterling Water Department reports serving 6,715 people through 2,487 service connections in Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Where does Sterling Water Department 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 Sterling Water Department have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026. 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 Sterling Water Department'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, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Sterling Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Sterling Water Department 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 Worcester County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester Dpwp, Water Supply Division | Worcester | 206,518 | Community | Surface water |
| Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply | Worcester | 41,946 | Community | Surface water |
| Leominster Water Division | Worcester | 41,683 | Community | Surface water |
| Shrewsbury Water Department | Worcester | 38,325 | Community | Groundwater |
| Milford Water Department | Worcester | 30,379 | Community | Surface water |
| Westborough Water Department | Worcester | 21,567 | 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, “Sterling Water Department, PWSID MA2282000, Massachusetts”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/massachusetts/sterling-water-department-ma2282000 (data as of October 1, 2026).