Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD
SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD delivers tap water graded D (59/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 90,330 residents in BEVERLY, 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 (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 9789222600.
Is BEVERLY tap water safe to drink?
SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (59/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 90,330 residents in BEVERLY, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Dibromoacetic acid. 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD (system ID MA3030001) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for BEVERLY residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD.
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 0.536 ppt, 536x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 49.5 ppb, 330x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 29.9 ppb, 299x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD
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 BEVERLY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC or chloroform reduction.
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 59/100 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 |
0.536 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 536× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
49.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 330× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
29.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 299× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
15.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 250× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
16.5 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 165× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
33.9 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 85× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.458 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 76× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
11.5 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.15 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 42× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.76 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 31× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.57 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.2× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.131 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.0633 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.0323 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
17.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.21 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.87 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.92 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.58 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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.
SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD 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 BEVERLY water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.