Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in PEABODY, Massachusetts
Tap water in PEABODY, Massachusetts receives a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by PEABODY WATER DEPT.. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in PEABODY's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving PEABODY.
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 1.07 ppt, 1072x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 32.0 ppb, 533x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 29.4 ppb, 294x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.386 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for PEABODY WATER DEPT. (system ID MA3229000) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for PEABODY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in PEABODY's 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.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 PEABODY'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 |
1.07 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1072× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
32.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 533× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
29.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 294× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
41.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 278× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 169× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.386 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 97× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
17.9 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 90× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
26.9 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 67× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.31 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.233 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.43 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 38× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 34× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.506 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.97 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 6.6× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0419 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) PFAS |
0.01 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) PFAS |
0.009 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5× over |
| Cadmium Heavy metal |
0.053 ppb | 0.04 | 5.0 | 5 | 3 | 0.04 | — | 1.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
264.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.13 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
33.0 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.129 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
128.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.43 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.24 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
27.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.23 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.259 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.43 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.86 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.21 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0907 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.207 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.0511 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Quinoline Other |
0.00757 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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 PEABODY WATER DEPT..