Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
LAWRENCE WATER WORKS
LAWRENCE WATER WORKS delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 88,877 residents in LAWRENCE, Massachusetts using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 9786203321.
Is LAWRENCE tap water safe to drink?
LAWRENCE WATER WORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 88,877 residents in LAWRENCE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 17 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromoacetic acid, Nitrate, Chlorate. 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 LAWRENCE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for LAWRENCE WATER WORKS.
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.
Contact LAWRENCE WATER WORKS
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 LAWRENCE
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 48/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
LAWRENCE WATER WORKS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Essex County, Massachusetts. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for LAWRENCE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.