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Massachusetts Tap Water Quality 2026

EPA drinking water data for 326 cities across Massachusetts — covering lead levels, violation history, and compliance status.

Systems tracked: 299 Cities covered: 326 Updated: 2026 Q2
B

Massachusetts earns a B for overall water quality

326 communities across 14 counties and 299 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

Median lead where detected: 2.55 ppb
17.2% of systems report lead as not detected — a state filing convention, not a water quality measure
PFAS tested at 76.4% of communities; 69 above the federal limit
Lead reported for 100.0% of communities
100.0% of communities have no open violations
Water Systems
299
Active community systems
Median Lead Level
2.55 ppb
17% of EPA action level
Fully Compliant
100%
of systems — no active violations
How we grade states Grades are based on actual EPA enforcement data — MCL violations and lead levels measured against the 15 ppb federal action level. We do not use MCLG-based detections, which are aspirational zero-tolerance goals that would make nearly every state look dangerous. Read our full methodology →

Best & Worst Cities in Massachusetts

✓ Cleanest Water
Oakham
Worcester County
2.3 ppb B
New Braintree
Worcester County
0.0 ppb B
Russell
Hampden County
2.7 ppb A
Montgomery
Hampden County
2.7 ppb A
Ashby
Middlesex County
1.6 ppb A
New Bedford
Bristol County
4.1 ppb A
⚠ Needs Attention
Maynard
Middlesex County
2.4 ppb D
Dartmouth
Bristol County
7.0 ppb D
Bridgewater Town
Plymouth County
3.0 ppb D
Uxbridge
Worcester County
1.3 ppb D
Millville
Worcester County
1.3 ppb D
Rockland
Plymouth County
4.0 ppb D

Water Quality by County

14 of 14
Sort:
CountySystemsLead LevelViolationsGrade
Worcester County 60 2.3 ppb 0 B
Middlesex County 54 2.4 ppb 0 B
Essex County 32 2.6 ppb 0 B
Norfolk County 28 2.0 ppb 0 B
Plymouth County 28 3.0 ppb 0 B
Berkshire County 22 2.2 ppb 0 A
Hampden County 21 2.7 ppb 0 A
Bristol County 20 2.0 ppb 0 B
Franklin County 20 2.6 ppb 0 A
Hampshire County 16 3.5 ppb 0 B

About Massachusetts Drinking Water

Massachusetts is served by 299 community water systems covering 326 communities across 14 counties. 100.0% have no open violation on record.

Lead was detected in 270 communities, with a median of 2.55 ppb — 17% of the federal action level. A further 56 reported none detected. That share is a state reporting convention rather than a measure of water quality, so it is stated separately rather than averaged in.

PFAS has been tested at 76.4% of communities here, and 69 are above the limits EPA set in 2024. Coverage matters: states that test more find more, so this figure is not comparable with a state that has tested less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Massachusetts tap water safe to drink? ▼
100.0% of communities have no open violation on record. 69 have PFAS above the federal limit set in 2024, which is the main open concern.
Does Massachusetts have a lead problem? ▼
11 water systems report a 90th-percentile lead result at or above the 15 ppb action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and 56 communities report no detection at all.
How complete is the data for Massachusetts? ▼
Lead results are reported for 100.0% of communities and PFAS for 76.4%. Where a figure is missing it is shown as not reported rather than assumed safe.
How does Massachusetts compare with other states? ▼
We do not rank states against each other. Lead reporting completeness ranges from under 20% to 100% depending on the state, so a national ranking would compare filing practice rather than water quality.