Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
LOWELL REGIONAL WATER UTILITY
LOWELL REGIONAL WATER UTILITY delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 115,000 residents in LOWELL, 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 9786744240.
Is LOWELL tap water safe to drink?
LOWELL REGIONAL WATER UTILITY 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 115,000 residents in LOWELL, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Chlorite, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate, Chromium (hexavalent). 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 LOWELL residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for LOWELL REGIONAL WATER UTILITY.
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.
Contact LOWELL REGIONAL WATER UTILITY
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 LOWELL
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
LOWELL REGIONAL WATER UTILITY service area
This water system serves 1 community in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for LOWELL water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.