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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 WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION • Updated September 2026
Grade A — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION has a clean recent record: no health-based violations in the last five years and no lead, PFAS or historical monitoring result that costs it more than a few points.
Yes — by EPA's records Worcester, MA tap water is safe to drink and earns an A. The grade rests on low-level PFAS (PFPeA) detected below federal limits. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes — by EPA's records Worcester, MA tap water is safe to drink and earns an A. The grade rests on low-level PFAS (PFPeA) detected below federal limits. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31) was 2 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.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2023-07-19 to 2024-04-17) detected PFPeA, all below federal MCLs. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
No. EPA's SDWIS shows no violations of any kind for WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION since 2016.
WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 206,518 people (EPA PWSID MA2348000).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles PFAS and improves taste.
Want to know what's really in your Worcester tap water?
PFPeA were detected in Worcester's water at low levels in 2023–2025 EPA monitoring.
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WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-13
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years.
No violations of any kind on file since 2016.
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31), 90% of the homes WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION sampled had lead at or below 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-01-01 → 2024-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2019-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | 3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2016-01-01 → 2018-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2013-01-01 → 2015-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2010-01-01 → 2012-12-31 | 2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2007-01-01 → 2009-12-31 | 4.4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2004-01-01 → 2006-12-31 | 8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2003-01-01 → 2003-12-31 | 7.9 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2002-01-01 → 2002-12-31 | 10.4 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2000-07-01 → 2001-06-30 | 14.7 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2000-01-01 → 2000-06-30 | 12 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1999-07-01 → 1999-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Copper 90th percentile: 2.29 mg/L (1992-07-01 → 1992-12-31); action level 1.3 mg/L.
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2023-07-19 to 2024-04-17 · 112 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
PFPeA detected at low levels; no compound was at or above its federal MCL. Detections below the MCL are common in surface-water systems and are reported here exactly as EPA published them.
| 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 |
| PFPeA | 1 / 4 | 3.2 | 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 → · Best filters for PFAS →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), Haloacetic acids (HAA5) are flagged below; the status column explains why. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 80 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 10 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N) | 86 detects | 0.077 mg/L | 0.284 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 82 detects | 0.015 mg/L | 0.07 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 80 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 100 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 250 | 44.423 µg/L | 104.2 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 11 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 254253 detects | 28.006 µg/L | 66 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 3 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
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 Worcester will follow up - no obligation.
WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION · 44,857 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION reports no lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines and has classified 98% of its 44,857 lines as non-lead. Lead can still come from pre-1986 plumbing and fixtures inside a home.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID MA2348000 · 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 Worcester 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 Worcester 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 Worcester 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.
What Worcester residents measured at their own tap (ZIPs 01545, 01583, 01602, 01603 +7 more). All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for Worcester yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
Worcester ranks #16 of 48 graded Massachusetts cities.
Deep-dive guides for the specific contaminants EPA data flagged in Worcester's water, with removal options for each.
Yes — by EPA's records Worcester, MA tap water is safe to drink and earns an A. The grade rests on low-level PFAS (PFPeA) detected below federal limits. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31) was 2 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.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2023-07-19 to 2024-04-17) detected PFPeA, all below federal MCLs. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
No. EPA's SDWIS shows no violations of any kind for WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION since 2016.
WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 206,518 people (EPA PWSID MA2348000).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles PFAS and improves taste.
PFPeA were detected in Worcester's water at low levels in 2023–2025 EPA monitoring.
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Based on contaminants detected in your water, these resources may be helpful:
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Tap water is one piece of the picture — our sister sites cover the rest for Worcester, MA.
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