Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
NEWTON WATER DEPT. (MWRA)
NEWTON WATER DEPT. (MWRA) delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 88,415 residents in NEWTON, Massachusetts using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5)* significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)* significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 6177961640.
Is NEWTON tap water safe to drink?
NEWTON WATER DEPT. (MWRA) delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 88,415 residents in NEWTON, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 11 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5)*, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)*, Dichloroacetic acid*, Bromodichloromethane*, Chloroform*, Trichloroacetic acid*, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)*, Dibromochloromethane*, Nitrate, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)*. 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 NEWTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for NEWTON WATER DEPT. (MWRA).
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)*, 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 14.1 ppb, 235x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)* significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5)* detected at 14.7 ppb, 147x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)* significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs)* detected at 17.2 ppb, 115x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact NEWTON WATER DEPT. (MWRA)
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Recommended water filters for NEWTON
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 55/100 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 |
14.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 235× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5)* Disinfection byproduct |
14.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 147× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)* Disinfection byproduct |
17.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 115× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 55× over |
| Bromodichloromethane* Disinfection byproduct |
3.25 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 54× over |
| Chloroform* Disinfection byproduct |
13.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
2.02 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)* PFAS |
0.832 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 9.2× over |
| Dibromochloromethane* Disinfection byproduct |
0.808 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.1× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.316 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.3× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)* PFAS |
0.44 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 1.5× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
100.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
8.55 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
1.7 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
7.39 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
4.43 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)* PFAS |
0.505 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)* PFAS |
0.413 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)* PFAS |
0.131 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0363 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide* Other |
12.2 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.291 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite* Inorganic |
0.000554 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | 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.
NEWTON WATER DEPT. (MWRA) 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 NEWTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.