Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in WORCESTER, Massachusetts
Tap water in WORCESTER, Massachusetts receives a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in WORCESTER's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving WORCESTER.
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 46.9 ppb, 781x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 45.0 ppb, 300x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.274 ppt, 274x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Recommended filters for WORCESTER
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in WORCESTER'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 WORCESTER'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 |
46.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 781× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
45.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 300× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.274 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 274× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
25.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 252× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.9 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 129× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.91 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 115× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
35.8 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 89× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
10.9 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 55× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.38 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.079 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.11 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 12× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.109 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.5× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.945 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.2× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.027 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.163 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.0247 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
13.4 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.33 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
12.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.54 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.8 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.753 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.334 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0438 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0127 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 WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION.