Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in New Bedford, MA tap water
25 contaminants were measured in the New Bedford, MA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 25
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Manganese
- Service area
- MA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound detected in New Bedford, 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.
PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (18 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
New Bedford, MA's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 5 sources.
Source
- ASSOWAMPSETT POND
- GREAT QUITTACAS POND
- LITTLE QUITTACAS POND (5) TERMINAL
- LONG POND
- + 1 more
Treatment
- HIGH HILL RESERVOIR TREATMENT PLANT
- QUITTACAS WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Distribution
Also buys water from FAIRHAVEN WATER DEPT.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
1 contaminant historically over EPA limits in New Bedford, MA
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
HAA5 worst: 2019 | 0.082 mg/L 1.4× | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
TTHM worst: 2018 | 0.065 mg/L 81% | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2013 | 1.3 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHROMIUM worst: 2014 | 0.0011 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.1 mg/L | '14 |
NITRATE worst: 2019 | 0.106 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '13'14'19 |
BARIUM worst: 2014 | 0.009 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
COPPER worst: 2018 | 0.0011 mg/L below national p90 | — | '18 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.03 mg/L | — | '12 |
MCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0042 mg/L | — | '12 |
TCAA worst: 2012 | 0.013 mg/L | — | '12 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0076 mg/L | — | '12'13 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.038 mg/L | — | '12'13 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.00092 mg/L | — | '12'13 |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 300 ug/LReported levelHealth Advisory | 50 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 416 ug/LRangeRange Detected | 200 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 4.1 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 15 ug/LAction level | Within the limit |
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detected mg/LRangeRange Detected | 0.1 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 3.1 mg/LRangeRange Detected | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 1.3 mg/LRangeRange Detected | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 0.922 mg/LRangeRange Detected | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 28.6 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.83 mg/LAverageOr Highest Value | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS | 3.57 ng/LAverageOr Highest Value | 20 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0 %AverageOr Highest Value | 0 %MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2.59 mg/LAverageOr Highest Value | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.11 NTUAverageOr Highest Value | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.5 pCi/LRangeRange Detected | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 0.5 pCi/LRangeRange Detected | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about New Bedford, MA's water
+Is New Bedford, MA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the New Bedford, MA water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Manganese and Aluminum. 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 New Bedford, MA tap water?
25 contaminants were measured in New Bedford, MA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, disinfection byproducts, and inorganic chemicals. 17 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 New Bedford, MA tap water?
2 contaminants in New Bedford, MA's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Manganese (6.0× the limit); Aluminum (2.1× 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 New Bedford, MA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Manganese, at 6.0× 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 New Bedford, 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 New Bedford, 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.