Barnstable Town, MA Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Centerville Osterville Marstons Mills Wd PWSID: MA4020002 Updated: 2026 Q2

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PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 15 sampling points

Lead is 2.40 ppb, 16% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 15 sampling points, running as high as 1.21 times the limit.

Barnstable Town earns a B for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 2.40 ppb — 16% of the federal action level

PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 15 sampling points

1 violations since 2015, 0 health-based

No violations currently open

Barnstable Town's lead level vs. all Massachusetts community water systems

0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb

Lead level: 2.40 ppb — 16% of the federal action level

✓ Lower lead than 54% of Massachusetts utilities

Population Served

22677

~12384 connections

Water Source

Groundwater

Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW

Active Violations

1 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)

90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system

16% of EPA action level

2.40 ppb

Action level: 15 ppb

The 90th-percentile lead result is 2.40 ppb, 16% 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)

Contaminant	Type	Measured	Limit	Period	Status
Nitrate	MONITORING AND REPORTING	—	10 mg/L	2024	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

1 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Centerville Osterville Marstons Mills Wd

PWSID MA4020002

Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW

Population served 22,677

Service connections 12,384

Systems serving this area 6

Regulator State primacy agency

Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Barnstable Town tap water safe to drink? ▼

It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 15 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 2.40 ppb, 16% of the action level.

Does Barnstable Town water have PFAS? ▼

Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 15 sampling points, running as high as 1.21 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.

Who supplies water to Barnstable Town? ▼

Centerville Osterville Marstons Mills Wd (PWSID MA4020002), one of 6 systems serving this area. Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW

When was this system last inspected? ▼

It was last inspected on 2025-06-17. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Barnstable Town Residents Do?

Consider a reverse-osmosis filter

Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.

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.

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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