PFAS in tap water, Essex County, Massachusetts
13 of 32 water systems had PFAS-4 above our 0.5 ng/L benchmark at the latest sample. Highest: Hamilton Water Dept, 22.3 ng/L. 15 had PFOA or PFOS above the 4 ng/L federal MCL in at least one sample.
32 community water systems · 797,272 people served · newest sample March 23, 2026
Water systems in Essex County
| Water system | People served | PFAS-4 at the latest sample | Entry points | Latest sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn Water and Sewer Comm | 101,253 | 4.7 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 1 | November 1, 2023 |
| Lawrence Water Works | 89,143 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | October 7, 2024 |
| Haverhill Water Dept | 61,277 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | October 10, 2023 |
| Peabody Water Dept. | 54,481 | 7 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 3 | October 6, 2025 |
| Methuen Water Dept | 53,059 | 4 ng/L | 1 | September 19, 2024 |
| Beverly Water Dept | 47,461 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | April 2, 2025 |
| Salem Water Department | 44,480 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | April 2, 2025 |
| Gloucester Public Utility Division | 37,440 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 2 | September 9, 2024 |
| Andover Water Dept | 36,569 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | October 1, 2025 |
| North Andover Water Dept | 30,915 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | July 29, 2024 |
| Danvers Water Dept. | 28,087 | 5.2 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 2 | May 16, 2024 |
| Saugus Water Dept. (MWRA) | 27,844 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | October 21, 2024 |
| Marblehead Water Dept. (MWRA) | 20,441 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | October 6, 2025 |
| Newburyport Water Department | 20,335 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit above the 2029 federal MCL in an earlier sample | 2 | November 6, 2024 |
| Amesbury DPW Water Div. | 17,366 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | June 5, 2025 |
| Swampscott Water Dept. (MWRA) | 15,300 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | October 6, 2025 |
| Ipswich DPU Water Dept | 13,138 | 5.6 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 5 | October 17, 2024 |
| Rockport Water Dept | 10,000 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | November 8, 2023 |
| Salisbury Water Division | 9,334 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit above the 2029 federal MCL in an earlier sample | 2 | March 23, 2026 |
| Georgetown Water Department | 8,766 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | July 15, 2025 |
| Lynnfield Center Water District | 8,525 | 6.1 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 3 | January 9, 2024 |
| Hamilton Water Dept | 7,674 | 22.3 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 2 | October 2, 2023 |
| Middleton Water Dept. | 7,291 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit above the 2029 federal MCL in an earlier sample | 1 | October 9, 2024 |
| Merrimac Water Department | 6,988 | 5.6 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 2 | July 9, 2024 |
| Groveland Water Department | 6,508 | 6.1 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 2 | October 7, 2024 |
| Rowley Water Department | 6,161 | 12.6 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 2 | July 10, 2023 |
| Topsfield Water Department | 5,435 | 13.9 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 1 | July 22, 2025 |
| Manchester By the Sea DPW | 5,201 | 16.8 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 2 | December 2, 2025 |
| Lynnfield Water Dist. (MWRA) | 4,820 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | December 2, 2025 |
| West Newbury Water Department | 4,704 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | January 14, 2025 |
| Wenham Water Dept. | 3,942 | 10.8 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL | 1 | November 6, 2024 |
| Nahant Water Dept. (MWRA) | 3,334 | below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit | 1 | November 4, 2024 |
Not sure which one is yours? The systems report their own service areas to EPA. Check your water bill or your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Cities and towns
- Amesbury
- Andover
- Beverly
- Danvers
- Georgetown town/township
- Gloucester
- Groveland town/township
- Hamilton town/township
- Haverhill
- Ipswich
- Lawrence
- Lynn
- Lynnfield
- Manchester
- Marblehead
- Merrimac town/township
- Methuen
- Middleton town/township
- Nahant
- Newburyport
- North Andover town/township
- Peabody
- Rockport
- Rowley
- Salem
- Salisbury
- Saugus
- Swampscott
- Topsfield
- Wenham town/township
- West Newbury town/township
ZIP codes in Essex County
Census ZIP code tabulation areas that overlap the county. A ZIP served by one system opens that system's page; a ZIP shared by several systems lists them.
How to read these numbers
We compare PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) with this site's 0.5 ng/L benchmark, the same line as on the European pages. UCMR 5 reporting limits are 3 to 4 ng/L. So any quantified PFAS-4 compound is above the benchmark, and a clean result reads "below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit", never zero. The US legal limit is the 4 ng/L federal MCL for PFOA and PFOS, which systems must meet from April 26, 2029 ("above the 2029 federal MCL").
EPA: "UCMR 5 results do not indicate compliance or noncompliance with the PFAS drinking water standards". Samples are taken where water enters the distribution system, not at your tap. A system may have changed sources or added treatment since. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Water, PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR). Regulation details retrieved September 19, 2026. Every system page tracks the 2029 compliance date and the proposed rescission of the PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and Hazard Index limits.
This site is a data project, not an official source. If in doubt, check with your water supplier or local authority.