Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Malden, MA tap water
9 contaminants were measured in the Malden, 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
- 9
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Lead
- Service area
- MA
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Malden, MA buys its drinking water from MWRA.
Source
Treatment
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-based12 violations on record · most recent Jul 1997resolved
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based8 violations on record · most recent Mar 2016resolved
- Monitoring & reporting2 violations on record · most recent Jul 20192 open
- Other1 violation on record · most recent Jun 20221 open
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.0192 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | At or above the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 93 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.008 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 1.94 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 22.9 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 26.3 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.7 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.62 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.82 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
People also ask about Malden, MA's water
+Is Malden, MA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Malden, MA water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: Lead. 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 Malden, MA tap water?
9 contaminants were measured in Malden, MA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, disinfection byproducts, and inorganic chemicals. 6 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 Malden, MA tap water?
One contaminant in Malden, MA's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: Lead (1.3× 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 Malden, MA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Lead, at 1.3× the federal threshold. It belongs to the metals family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Malden, 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 Malden, 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.