Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Worcester, MA tap water
11 contaminants were measured in the Worcester, MA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 11
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Service area
- MA
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 16–51 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 60 ug/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.1–2 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.256 NTUHighest single sampleTreatment plant | None set | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 2 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.095 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.01 mg/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 21 mg/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.52 mg/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.06 mg/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0Reported levelTotal # Positive | 0MCLG | None detected |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS | 1.9 ng/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Worcester, MA's water
+Is Worcester, MA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
Every one of the 11 contaminants measured in Worcester, 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 Worcester, MA tap water?
11 contaminants were measured in Worcester, MA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and disinfectants. 7 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Are any contaminants in Worcester, MA tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: HAA5. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Worcester, 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 Worcester, 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.