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Merrimac, MA Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Merrimac Water Department PWSID: MA3180000 Updated: 2026 Q2
⚠️

PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points

Lead is 1.60 ppb, 11% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points, running as high as 1.56 times the limit.

B

Merrimac earns a B for water quality

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

Lead: 1.60 ppb — 11% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points
32 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Merrimac's lead level vs. all Massachusetts community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 1.60 ppb — 11% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 77% of Massachusetts utilities
Population Served
6449
~1980 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
32 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
11% of EPA action level
1.60 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 1.60 ppb, 11% 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
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2021 Addressed
LASSO MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2019 Archived
Atrazine MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.003 mg/L 2019 Archived
Carbofuran MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.04 mg/L 2019 Archived
Chlordane MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2019 Archived
2,4-D MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.07 mg/L 2019 Archived
Endrin MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2019 Archived
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00005 mg/L 2019 Archived
Heptachlor epoxide MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2019 Archived
Heptachlor MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0004 mg/L 2019 Archived
Pentachlorophenol MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.001 mg/L 2019 Archived
Toxaphene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.003 mg/L 2019 Archived
2,4,5-TP MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.05 mg/L 2019 Archived
Methoxychlor MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.04 mg/L 2019 Archived
BHC-GAMMA MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2019 Archived
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0005 mg/L 2019 Archived
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2019 Archived
Benzo(a)pyrene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2019 Archived
Dalapon MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.2 mg/L 2019 Archived
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.4 mg/L 2019 Archived
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.006 mg/L 2019 Archived
Dinoseb MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.007 mg/L 2019 Archived
Diquat MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.02 mg/L 2019 Archived
Endothall MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2019 Archived
Glyphosate MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.7 mg/L 2019 Archived
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.001 mg/L 2019 Archived
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.05 mg/L 2019 Archived
OXAMYL MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.2 mg/L 2019 Archived
Picloram MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.5 mg/L 2019 Archived
Simazine MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.004 mg/L 2019 Archived
2,3,7,8-TCDD MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00000003 mg/L 2019 Archived
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2015 Resolved
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

32 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 Merrimac Water Department
PWSID MA3180000
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 6,449
Service connections 1,980
Systems serving this area 3
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Merrimac tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 1.60 ppb, 11% of the action level.
Does Merrimac water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points, running as high as 1.56 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Merrimac? ▼
Merrimac Water Department (PWSID MA3180000), one of 3 systems serving this area. Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-10-24. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Merrimac Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
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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