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Massachusetts Water Quality
328
Utilities in database
10.0M
Residents served
18%
On private wells
3
Key contaminants tracked
Drinking Water in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 328 community water systems serving approximately 10.0 million residents. Primary water sources include surface water. The most commonly reported contaminants include lead, disinfection byproducts, nitrates. 18% of Massachusetts residents rely on private wells. DEP holds primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Utilities in Massachusetts
101–125 of 328Bourne Water District
MA4036000 · 22,500 served
Wilmington Water Dept
MA3342000 · 22,481 served
Canton Water Dept
MA4050000 · 22,453 served
Provincetown Water Department
MA4242000 · 22,250 served
Westborough Water Department
MA2328000 · 21,567 served
Wareham Fire District
MA4310000 · 21,418 served
Gardner Water Department
MA2103000 · 21,287 served
Acton Water Supply District
MA2002000 · 20,780 served
Marblehead Water Dept. (mwra)
MA3168000 · 20,441 served
Newburyport Water Department
MA3206000 · 20,335 served
Hudson Water Supply
MA2141000 · 20,032 served
Salisbury Water Division
MA3259000 · 20,000 served
Winthrop Water Division, (mwra)
MA3346000 · 19,316 served
Scituate Water Division
MA4264000 · 19,297 served
Southbridge Water Department
MA2278000 · 19,180 served
Norton Water Department
MA4218000 · 19,161 served
Orleans Water Department
MA4224000 · 18,921 served
Ashland Water and Sewer Dept.
MA3014000 · 18,832 served
Concord Water Dept
MA3067000 · 18,788 served
Westford Water Department
MA3330000 · 18,680 served
Foxboro Water Department
MA4099000 · 18,639 served
Sudbury Water District
MA3288000 · 18,416 served
Somerset Water Department
MA4273000 · 18,303 served
Pembroke Water Division Dpw
MA4231000 · 18,251 served
Holden Water Division, Dpw
MA2134000 · 17,951 served
Key Contaminant Concerns in Massachusetts
Lead
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that was widely used in plumbing infrastructure until it was banned for new installations in 1986. An estimated 9.2 million lead service lines still connect homes to public water mains across the United States, along with millions of homes with lead solder in their internal plumbing.
Nitrates
Nitrate (NO₃⁻) is a nitrogen-containing compound that forms naturally through the decomposition of organic matter. At elevated concentrations — almost always from human activity — nitrate interferes with the blood's ability to carry oxygen. The United States produces over 23 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer annually, making agricultural runoff the dominant source of nitrate contamination.
DBPs
When utilities add chlorine to water to kill pathogens, it reacts with dissolved organic matter — leaves, algae, soil — to produce disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Over 600 DBPs have been identified. The EPA regulates two groups: total trihalomethanes (TTHMs, including chloroform) and haloacetic acids (HAA5). DBP levels tend to be highest in surface water systems and in warm months when organic matter is elevated.
Massachusetts Water FAQs
Quick Links
Data source: Utility data from EPA SDWIS. 328 active community water systems ingested. CCR contaminant data ingestion in progress.
Last updated: 2026-04-19