Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CITY OF NEW BEDFORD DPI
CITY OF NEW BEDFORD DPI delivers tap water graded F (47/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 101,079 residents in NEW BEDFORD, Massachusetts using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 5089791550.
Is NEW BEDFORD tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF NEW BEDFORD DPI delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 101,079 residents in NEW BEDFORD, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Chromium (hexavalent). 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.
Quick actions for NEW BEDFORD residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CITY OF NEW BEDFORD DPI.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 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 47.5 ppb, 792x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 39.5 ppb, 395x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 40.9 ppb, 273x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact CITY OF NEW BEDFORD DPI
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 NEW BEDFORD
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 47/100 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 |
47.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 792× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
39.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 395× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
40.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 273× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.162 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 162× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
13.2 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 132× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
24.3 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 121× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.78 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 96× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
35.2 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 88× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.03 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 23× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.054 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 9.0× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.393 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.9× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.659 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 2.2× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0341 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
148.4 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0163 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
166.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
20.3 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.0236 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) PFAS |
0.126 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) PFAS |
0.101 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.245 ppb | 3.0 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.17 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 11-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS) Other |
0.025 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.264 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
7.18 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0911 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.806 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.738 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.162 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0284 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.775 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.
CITY OF NEW BEDFORD DPI service area
This water system serves 1 community in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for NEW BEDFORD water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.