Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION
WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION delivers tap water graded F (47/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 206,518 residents in WORCESTER, Massachusetts using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 5089291300.
Is WORCESTER tap water safe to drink?
WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 206,518 residents in WORCESTER, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Chromium (hexavalent), 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 WORCESTER residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY 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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 46.9 ppb, 781x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 45.0 ppb, 300x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.274 ppt, 274x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Contact WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY 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 WORCESTER
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 47/100 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 |
46.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 781× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
45.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 300× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.274 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 274× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
25.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 252× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.9 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 129× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.91 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 115× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
35.8 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 89× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
10.9 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 55× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.38 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.079 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.11 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 12× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.109 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.5× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.945 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.2× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.027 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.163 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.0247 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
13.4 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.33 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
12.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.54 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.8 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.753 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.334 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0438 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0127 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.
WORCESTER DPWP, WATER SUPPLY DIVISION service area
This water system serves 1 community in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for WORCESTER water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.