Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
FALMOUTH WATER DEPT
FALMOUTH WATER DEPT delivers tap water graded F (50/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 97,551 residents in FALMOUTH, Massachusetts using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 5084572543.
Is FALMOUTH tap water safe to drink?
FALMOUTH WATER DEPT delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 97,551 residents in FALMOUTH, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 17 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromoform. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for FALMOUTH residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for FALMOUTH WATER DEPT.
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 1.55 ppt, 1554x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 16.3 ppb, 109x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 6.5 ppb, 108x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact FALMOUTH WATER DEPT
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for FALMOUTH
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 50/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
1.55 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1554× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
16.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 109× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
6.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 108× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.78 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 80× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.04 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 40× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.14 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 38× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
3.58 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.127 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
5.46 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.25 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 14× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.05 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.819 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 5.8× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.279 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 4.6× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0805 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.0× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.03 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.4× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.207 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.8 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
84.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
8.86 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
18.3 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) PFAS |
0.012 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
5.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.265 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.058 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0236 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.894 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.331 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.599 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0272 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
FALMOUTH WATER DEPT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for FALMOUTH water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.