BREWSTER WATER DEPARTMENT vs MWRA
Water quality comparison — risk levels, violations, PFAS records, and contaminants
Quick Answer
MWRA has a lower risk classification (safe). BREWSTER WATER DEPARTMENT has 0 open health-based violations and 290 PFAS records. MWRA has 0 open health-based violations and 0 PFAS records.
Massachusetts · MA4041000
Low Concern
Minor detections below regulatory limits. Routine monitoring adequate.
0
Open violations
290
PFAS records
Massachusetts · MA6000000
No Concerns Detected
Water meets all safety standards with no detected exceedances.
0
Open violations
0
PFAS records
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | BREWSTER WATER DEPARTMENT | MWRA |
|---|---|---|
| State | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Risk Level | Low Concern | No Concerns Detected |
| Population Served | 35,000 | 2,660,000 |
| Open Health Violations | 0 | 0 |
| Total Violations | 27 | 0 |
| PFAS Records | 290 | None detected |
| Ownership | Local | State |
| Service Type | Groundwater | Surface water |
| City Served | Brewster | Boston |
Contaminants in Violation Records
BREWSTER WATER DEPARTMENT
- Bromate
- Arsenic
- Nitrate
MWRA
No named contaminants in violation records.
Key Differences
BREWSTER WATER DEPARTMENT has a low risk rating vs. safe for MWRA.
BREWSTER WATER DEPARTMENT has 290 PFAS records vs. 0 for MWRA.
What Should I Do?
If either utility shows open violations or elevated PFAS records, consider:
- Installing a reverse osmosis filter — removes PFAS, lead, arsenic, nitrates, and most heavy metals.
- Requesting your utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for the most current test results.
- Ordering a certified lab water test if you want contaminant-specific data for your address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is safer — BREWSTER WATER DEPARTMENT or MWRA?
MWRA has a lower risk classification (safe). MWRA has 0 open health-based violations compared to 0 for the other system.
What does "open health-based violation" mean?
An open health-based violation means a water system has exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or failed to meet a treatment technique — and the violation has not yet been resolved. These are the most serious type of water quality violations.
How current is this data?
Violation data comes from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), which is updated as utilities report. PFAS data comes from EPA's UCMR 5 monitoring (2023–2025). Risk levels are recalculated daily.
What does PWSID mean?
PWSID stands for Public Water System ID — a unique federal identifier assigned to each community water system. You can use it to look up a system in EPA's ECHO database.