Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in LOWELL, Massachusetts
Tap water in LOWELL, Massachusetts receives a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by LOWELL REGIONAL WATER UTILITY. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in LOWELL's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving LOWELL.
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.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.347 ppt, 347x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 41.1 ppb, 274x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 12.7 ppb, 211x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Recommended filters for LOWELL
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in LOWELL'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 LOWELL'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.347 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 347× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
41.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 274× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
12.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 211× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
15.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 154× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.17 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 103× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
31.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 78× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.44 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
8.19 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 41× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.91 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 32× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.38 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.081 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Chlorite Disinfection byproduct |
288.3 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 5.8× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.11 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.7× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.261 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.9× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0269 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0298 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
179.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
7.76 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0246 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.06 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0295 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.864 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
8.67 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.11 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.975 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.852 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0114 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.536 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0592 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.643 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 LOWELL REGIONAL WATER UTILITY.