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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) • Updated September 2026
Grade C — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) has a mixed record — read the reasons below; the deductions come from real EPA violations, lead results or PFAS detections, not from a template.
Boston, MA tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records because of lead at 5.8 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
Boston, MA tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records because of lead at 5.8 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA)'s most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2026-01-01 to 2026-06-30) was 5.8 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 116 UCMR5 PFAS results for BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) (2024-01-10 to 2024-10-22) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) has 1 violation on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years (1 still unresolved) and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) reports purchased surface water as its primary source and serves about 675,647 people (EPA PWSID MA3035000).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead and improves taste.
Want to know what's really in your Boston tap water?
Lead was found at 5.8 ppb (90th percentile) in Boston's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
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BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-07
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years. Older health-based violations (since 2016) are listed below for context.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR)Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment technique | 2020-11-01 | Addressed |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA)
Below the action level, but detectable. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2026-01-01 to 2026-06-30), 90% of the homes BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) sampled had lead at or below 5.8 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 → 2026-06-30 | 5.8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2025-01-01 → 2025-12-31 | 22.5 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2024-07-01 → 2024-12-31 | 7.96 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2024-01-01 → 2024-06-30 | 11.7 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2023-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 21.3 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2022-07-01 → 2022-12-31 | 12.6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2022-01-01 → 2022-06-30 | 9.76 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2022-01-01 → 2022-06-30 | 99.5 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2021-07-01 → 2021-12-31 | 17.4 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2021-01-01 → 2021-06-30 | 6.88 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2020-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | 25.2 ppb | Above the 15 ppb action level |
| 2019-01-01 → 2019-12-31 | 11.9 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2024-01-10 to 2024-10-22 · 116 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 116 UCMR5 PFAS results for BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 4 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 4 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 4 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 4 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 4 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 4 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Boston will follow up - no obligation.
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) · 99,945 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) reports 2,449 service lines that are lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement (2.5% of the lines it has inventoried), plus 4,180 lines whose material is still unknown. A lead service line is the pipe between the water main and a building, so treated water can pick up lead after it leaves the plant — which city-level testing does not capture. Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, utilities must replace lead lines within 10 years starting in 2027.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID MA3035000 · See all Massachusetts lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Boston homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Boston faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Boston households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Boston ranks #41 of 48 graded Massachusetts cities.
Boston, MA tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records because of lead at 5.8 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA)'s most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2026-01-01 to 2026-06-30) was 5.8 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 116 UCMR5 PFAS results for BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) (2024-01-10 to 2024-10-22) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) has 1 violation on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years (1 still unresolved) and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) reports purchased surface water as its primary source and serves about 675,647 people (EPA PWSID MA3035000).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead and improves taste.
Lead was found at 5.8 ppb (90th percentile) in Boston's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
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Based on contaminants detected in your water, these resources may be helpful:
Find the right filter for your Boston water quality needs:
Tap water is one piece of the picture — our sister sites cover the rest for Boston, MA.
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