Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
TAUNTON WATER DIVISION
TAUNTON WATER DIVISION delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 62,165 residents in TAUNTON, Massachusetts using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 5088211045.
Is TAUNTON tap water safe to drink?
TAUNTON WATER DIVISION 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 62,165 residents in TAUNTON, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 17 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Nitrate, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Chlorate, 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 TAUNTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for TAUNTON WATER DIVISION.
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 0.543 ppt, 543x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 32.4 ppb, 540x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 35.5 ppb, 355x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact TAUNTON WATER DIVISION
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 TAUNTON
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 |
0.543 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 543× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
32.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 540× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
35.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 355× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
46.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 307× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.9 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 149× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.72 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 129× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
37.3 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 93× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
17.9 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 89× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.16 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.55 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 17× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.86 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 13× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.54 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.77 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.7× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.178 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.9× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.83 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 2.8× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
319.2 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0275 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
5.47 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) PFAS |
0.052 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.35 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
22.1 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.17 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.12 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.844 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.67 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0625 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.512 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.
TAUNTON WATER DIVISION service area
This water system serves 1 community in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for TAUNTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.