Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in LAWRENCE, Massachusetts
Tap water in LAWRENCE, Massachusetts receives a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by LAWRENCE WATER WORKS. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in LAWRENCE's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving LAWRENCE.
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 37.9 ppb, 632x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.417 ppt, 417x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 42.2 ppb, 281x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Recommended filters for LAWRENCE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in LAWRENCE'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 LAWRENCE'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 |
37.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 632× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.417 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 417× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
42.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 281× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
27.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 276× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
15.1 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 151× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.11 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 118× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
31.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 78× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
11.4 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 57× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.15 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 35× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.134 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 22× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.28 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.062 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.47 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.9× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0888 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.4× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0734 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.34 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.4× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
357.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Chlorite Disinfection byproduct |
26.5 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.574 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.045 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
10.6 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.0967 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
14.3 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.02 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.213 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.27 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.898 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.724 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.00625 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0496 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.667 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, 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 LAWRENCE WATER WORKS.