Worcester, MA Water Quality Report
Is Worcester tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Worcester, Massachusetts. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Worcester tap water safe to drink? Worcester tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 0 ppt across 1 compound. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Worcester water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Worcester water: PFPeA (0 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Worcester? 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.
Worcester Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Worcester drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 0 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 0 ppt across 1 detected compound.
Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.
Top Detected Compounds
- PFPeA: 0 ppt
Lead in Worcester Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 39 lead samples for Worcester water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0309 mg/L (above 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.
EPA Violations in Worcester
Worcester public water systems have 3 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Gross Beta, Lead & Copper Rule, Total Organic Carbon. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
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 Worcester: approximately 185,877.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Worcester to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Worcester Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually