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Cheshire, MA Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Cheshire, MA — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Cheshire's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Cheshire Water Dept PWSID: MA1058000 Updated: 2026 Q2
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Lead above the federal action level

Lead is 15.00 ppb, 100% of the action level and no violations are open. PFAS has never been sampled at this system.

C

Cheshire earns a C for water quality

Graded on violations and lead, with state inspection findings. PFAS not tested.

Lead: 15.00 ppb — 100% of the federal action level
PFAS never sampled at this system
2 violations since 2015, 1 health-based
No violations currently open
Cheshire's lead level vs. all Massachusetts community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 15.00 ppb — 100% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 0% of Massachusetts utilities
Population Served
1927
~571 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
2 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
100% of EPA action level
15.00 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 15.00 ppb, 100% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2017 Resolved
Coliform (TCR) MCL EXCEEDANCE — 5% of samples 2015 Archived
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

2 violations are on record since 2015, of which 1 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Cheshire Water Dept
PWSID MA1058000
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 1,927
Service connections 571
Systems serving this area 4
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cheshire tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 15.00 ppb, 100% of the action level.
Does Cheshire water have PFAS? ▼
This system has never been sampled for PFAS. EPA's national monitoring covered systems serving 3,300 people or more, so no results exist — which is not evidence that none is present.
Who supplies water to Cheshire? ▼
Cheshire Water Dept (PWSID MA1058000), one of 4 systems serving this area. Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-10-17. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Cheshire Residents Do?

1
Consider a filter certified for lead
Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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