Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts
Tap water in FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts receives a grade of F (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by FRAMINGHAM WATER DEPT. (MWRA). 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in FRAMINGHAM's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving FRAMINGHAM.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)*, 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 13.1 ppb, 219x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)* significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5)* detected at 14.7 ppb, 147x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)* significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs)* detected at 17.2 ppb, 115x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Recommended filters for FRAMINGHAM
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in FRAMINGHAM's 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.
All contaminants detected in FRAMINGHAM's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
13.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 219× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5)* Disinfection byproduct |
14.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 147× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)* Disinfection byproduct |
17.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 115× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 55× over |
| Bromodichloromethane* Disinfection byproduct |
3.25 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 54× over |
| Chloroform* Disinfection byproduct |
13.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
2.02 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)* PFAS |
0.832 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 9.2× over |
| Dibromochloromethane* Disinfection byproduct |
0.808 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.1× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)* PFAS |
0.44 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 1.5× over |
| Nitrate* Inorganic |
0.141 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.0× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0195 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
100.1 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
6.6 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
1.7 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
7.39 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
4.43 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.108 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)* PFAS |
0.505 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)* PFAS |
0.413 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)* PFAS |
0.131 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0391 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide* Other |
12.2 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.291 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite* Inorganic |
0.000554 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from FRAMINGHAM WATER DEPT. (MWRA).