Melrose Water Division (Mwra)
PWSID: MA3178000
This system currently has unresolved violations for: 5000. These violations mean contaminant levels exceeded EPA limits or required treatment was not performed.
This system has more violations on record than 79% of water systems in Massachusetts.
Violation trend: 0.2 per year over the last 5 years.
System Details
| Population Served | 29,357 |
| Service Connections | 8,630 |
| Water Source | Surface Water Purchased |
| System Type | Community Water System |
| Owner | Local Government |
| Status | Active |
| City | Melrose |
| EPA ZIP on File | 02176 |
Areas Served
- Melrose, Middlesex County, 02176
Lead & Copper Testing
| Contaminant | Level | EPA Action Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0242 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Exceeds Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0213 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Exceeds Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0191 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Exceeds Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0163 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Exceeds Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0138 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0119 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0112 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0102 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0101 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0100 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0093 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0086 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0083 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0074 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.0063 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Below Action Level |
1 Active Violations
| Contaminant | Violation | Date | Health-Based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5000 | TT | 2021-11-01 | Yes | Open |
Violation History (9 total)
| Contaminant | Violation | Date | Health-Based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5000 | TT | 2013-01-01 | Yes | Returned to Compliance |
| 5000 | TT | 2009-01-01 | Yes | Returned to Compliance |
| 5000 | TT | 2008-01-01 | Yes | Returned to Compliance |
| 5000 | TT | 1999-01-01 | Yes | Returned to Compliance |
| 5000 | TT | 1998-01-01 | Yes | Returned to Compliance |
| 5000 | TT | 1994-01-01 | Yes | Returned to Compliance |
| 5000 | TT | 1993-01-01 | Yes | Returned to Compliance |
| 5000 | TT | 1992-01-01 | Yes | Returned to Compliance |
Understanding This Water System's Record
Melrose Water Division (Mwra) is a community water system water system that draws from surface water purchased sources and serves a population of 29,357 in Melrose, Massachusetts. This page shows its complete compliance history as reported to the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), the federal database that tracks every public water system in the United States.
What Do These Violations Mean?
Health-based violations mean the system exceeded an EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) or failed to provide required treatment. These indicate potential health risks from contaminants like lead, arsenic, bacteria, nitrates, or disinfection byproducts. Non-health-based violations involve monitoring, reporting, or procedural requirements — the system missed a testing deadline or failed to notify customers, but contaminant levels were not necessarily unsafe.
What Should You Do?
Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) that details test results and any violations. If your system has active health-based violations, consider a certified water filter rated for the specific contaminants involved. The contaminant guides on this site explain health risks and filter options for common pollutants. For the most current results, contact your water utility directly — EPA data can lag weeks or months behind real-time testing.