States › Massachusetts › Essex County

Essex County, MA Water Quality

Water quality data for 32 public water systems serving Essex County, Massachusetts — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 32 water systems · 32 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

Essex County Earns a B

Essex County: 32 communities across 32 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 2.58 ppb
  • 20 communities with a lead detection, 12 reporting none detected
  • 10 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 1 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
2.58 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
32
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
100%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Lynn
    2.40 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Haverhill
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Salem
    3.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Gloucester
    3.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Saugus
    1.43 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Hamilton
    2.70 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 2 sampling points
    C
  • Rowley
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 2 sampling points
    C
  • Topsfield
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
    C
  • Manchester-by-the-Sea
    1.40 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
    C
  • Ipswich
    10.00 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 5 sampling points
    C
County Lead Level — Median 2.58 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 2.58 ppb — 17.2% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
16
5 – 10 ppb
2
10 – 15 ppb
2
No Data
12

All Cities in Essex County

Lynn 2.40 ppb A
Lawrence Not detected A
Haverhill Not detected A
Peabody 4.18 ppb B
Salem 3.00 ppb A
Beverly 13.00 ppb A
Andover Not detected A
North Andover 7.20 ppb B
Gloucester 3.00 ppb A
Saugus 1.43 ppb A
Danvers 4.70 ppb A
Marblehead 2.11 ppb A
Newburyport Not detected A
Swampscott 2.34 ppb A
Ipswich 10.00 ppb C
Middleton Not detected A
Salisbury 2.00 ppb B
Lynnfield 3.60 ppb B
Georgetown 6.00 ppb B
Hamilton 2.70 ppb C
Rockport Not detected A
Merrimac 1.60 ppb B
Groveland Not detected B
Rowley Not detected C
Topsfield Not detected C
Manchester-by-the-Sea 1.40 ppb C
West Newbury 1.00 ppb A
Wenham 1.60 ppb B
Nahant 2.45 ppb A
Essex Not detected B
Newbury Not detected B
Boxford Not detected B
Showing 32 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Essex County Drinking Water

Essex County is served by 32 water systems covering 32 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 20 recorded a detection, with a median of 2.58 ppb — 17% of the federal action level. 12 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

10 of 32 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 1 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Essex County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Essex County has an open violation on record. 10 of 32 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Essex County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 2.58 ppb, 17% of the 15 ppb action level. 12 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Essex County?▼
32 community water systems serve 32 communities here.
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