Guidelines for Public Water Systems

These documents are intended to provide guidance to public water suppliers and their employees, MassDEP staff, and the public, on all regulatory and procedural aspects of maintaining a safe drinking water supply.

Guidelines

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems: Introduction

  Introduction (updated April 2014 with new Mass.gov links)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 1: Submission of Designs, Plans, & Reports

  Chapter 1 (December 2009)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 2: General Design Considerations

  Chapter 2 (December 2009)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 3: Surface Water Supply Development  

  Chapter 3 (June 2009)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 4: Groundwater Supply Development

  Chapter 4 (March 2008)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 5: Treatment 

  Chapter 5 (February 2011)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 6: Chemical Application 

  Chapter 6 (December 2009)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 7: Pumping Facilities

  Chapter 7 (December 2009)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 8: Finished Water Storage

  Chapter 8 (May 2011)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 9: Distribution System Piping & Appurtenances

  Chapter 9 (May 2011)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 10: Water Management Act Requirements

  Chapter 10 (July 1996)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 11: Capacity Development

  Chapter 11 (January 2014)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Chapter 12: Emergency Response Planning

  Chapter 12 (December 2009)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Appendix A, Water Quality Testing Requirements for Source Approval

  Appendix A (May 2018)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Appendix B, Sample Affidavit

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Appendix D, Zone I/Interim Wellhead Protection Area Protective Radii Graphs

  Appendix D (December 2008)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Appendix E, Zone II Map Title Block
• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Appendix F, Water Management Program Request for Site Exam/Site Screening Package
• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Appendix G, Guidelines for New and Existing Transient Non-Community Groundwater Sources with Approved Yields Less than 10,000 Gallons per Day
• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Appendix H, Find Your Regional Office
• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Appendix K, Massachusetts Water Protection Regulations 

• Preparing Your Massachusetts Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report

  Appendix M of the Guidelines for Public Water Systems details the contents of a CCR. Updated December 2024.

• Appendix N, Requirements for Microbial Toolbox Options for Meeting Cryptosporidium Treatment Requirements under the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule

  Appendix N (August 2007)

• Guidelines for Public Water Systems Appendix O, Handbook for Water Supply Emergencies

  (November 2021)