Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
MERIDEN WATER DIVISION
MERIDEN WATER DIVISION delivers tap water graded D (57/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 58,441 residents in BERLIN, Connecticut using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 203-630-4256.
Is BERLIN tap water safe to drink?
MERIDEN WATER DIVISION delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (57/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 58,441 residents in BERLIN and 4 other communities, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for MERIDEN WATER DIVISION (system ID CT0800011) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Other (e.g. public notice) | 08/10/2024 | Resolved |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 10/01/2022 | Resolved |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for BERLIN residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for MERIDEN WATER DIVISION.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 29.5 ppb, 491x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 42.5 ppb, 283x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 24.3 ppb, 243x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact MERIDEN WATER DIVISION
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for BERLIN
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 57/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
29.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 491× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
42.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 283× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
24.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 243× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.211 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 211× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.6 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 146× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.94 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 116× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
29.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 73× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.45 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 47× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.52 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.43 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 8.5× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.13 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.5× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.558 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 6.2× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.31 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.537 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.8× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.529 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.8× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0145 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.15 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
55.4 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0496 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
60.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
5.0 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0243 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.609 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.249 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.105 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.0016 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.305 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.263 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.521 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.253 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.106 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.226 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
MERIDEN WATER DIVISION service area
This water system serves 5 communities in New Haven County, Connecticut. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for BERLIN water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.