Drinking water quality · 2024
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.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 25
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- 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)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.
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-based2 violations on record · most recent Jun 1994resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 39.8 ug/LAverageOr Highest Value | None set | Within the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 50.9 ug/LAverageOr Highest Value | None set | Within the limit |
| BromodichloromethaneA trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. | 5.21 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ChloroformA trihalomethane formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water. | 23.8 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine Total | 1.83 mg/LAverageOr Highest Value | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Radium 226 228 | 0.5 pCi/LRangeRange Detected | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Chromium | Not detected mg/LRangeRange Detected | 0.1 mg/LMCL | None detected |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 1.2 mg/LAverageOr Highest Value | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | Not detected mg/LRangeRange Detected | 10 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 23.8 mg/LRangeRange Detected | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 16.1 mg/LRangeRange Detected | 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. | 4.1 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.026 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.0065 mg/LRangeRange Detected | 2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 416 ug/LRangeRange Detected | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| 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 |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 300 ug/LReported levelHealth Advisory | 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 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.11 NTUAverageOr Highest Value | None set | Within the limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2.59 mg/LAverageOr Highest Value | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 0.5 pCi/LRangeRange Detected | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
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 |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS | 3.57 ng/LAverageOr Highest Value | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about New Bedford, MA's water
+Is New Bedford, MA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
Every one of the 25 contaminants measured in New Bedford, MA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of 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. 9 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+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.