Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Lynn, MA tap water
23 contaminants were measured in the Lynn, MA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 23
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- PFOS
- Service area
- MA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound above EPA limits in Lynn, MA
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.2×)PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Lynn, MA's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 6 sources.
Source
- BIRCH POND
- BREEDS POND
- HAWKES POND
- IPSWICH RIVER
- + 2 more
Treatment
- RAYMOND REARDON WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Distribution
Also buys water from MWRA.
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based3 violations on record · most recent Jan 1988resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 4.2 ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 ng/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.9 ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
| PFAS | 8.4 ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 52 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 27 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| Chlorite | 0.4 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 1 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.9 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.16 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 22 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 2.4 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.1 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.01 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 3 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 76 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.34–0.56 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 0.736–1.18 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 430 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 55 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Lynn, MA's water
+Is Lynn, MA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Lynn, MA water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: PFOS. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Lynn, MA tap water?
23 contaminants were measured in Lynn, MA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), metals, and disinfection byproducts. 10 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Lynn, MA tap water?
One contaminant in Lynn, MA's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: PFOS (1.1× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Lynn, MA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is PFOS, at 1.1× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Lynn, MA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Lynn, MA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.