New Bedford, MA Water Quality Report

Is New Bedford tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for New Bedford, Massachusetts. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is New Bedford tap water safe to drink? New Bedford tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 0.01 ppt across 1 compound. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in New Bedford water? Top PFAS compounds detected in New Bedford water: PFBA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in New Bedford? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

New Bedford Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in New Bedford drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 0.01 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 0.01 ppt across 1 detected compound.

Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFBA: 0.01 ppt

Lead in New Bedford Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 15 lead samples for New Bedford water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.009 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of New Bedford: approximately 101,079.

ZIP Codes Served

02740, 02741, 02742, 02743, 02744

What New Bedford Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually