Lead In Drinking Water In Massachusetts
What residents of Massachusetts need to know about lead in drinking water — including how it enters water, which utilities have documented violations, and what steps to take.
Source: EPA SDWIS, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is lead in drinking water a real concern in Massachusetts?
Yes — Massachusetts has one of the oldest housing stocks in the nation. Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Lowell have very high concentrations of pre-1900 housing where lead service lines and lead solder are effectively guaranteed.
Is this mostly a public-water issue, a private-well issue, or both?
Both public water service lines and household plumbing; Massachusetts's soft reservoir water is among the most corrosive in the country to lead-bearing plumbing materials.
What is the main reason residents should care?
Boston draws water from the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs, which produce naturally soft, low-mineral water. This water chemistry, combined with the city's vast inventory of pre-1900 housing and lead service lines, makes Boston one of the highest-risk lead exposure contexts for a major U.S. city.
Key Facts
| Federal Lead Action Level | 15 µg/L — no safe level per CDC |
| Housing stock | Among the oldest in the nation — Boston, Worcester, Springfield have dense pre-1900 housing |
| MWRA water chemistry | Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoir water is naturally very soft — aggressive toward lead plumbing |
| Corrosion control | MWRA applies orthophosphate — reduces leaching but does not eliminate risk from household plumbing |
| State oversight | Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) |
Why This Matters in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is one of the oldest states in the country, and its housing stock reflects that history. Boston's Roxbury, Dorchester, East Boston, South Boston, and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods have concentrations of 19th and early 20th century triple-deckers and rowhouses, most with original lead service lines and lead solder. Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Lawrence, and Brockton have similar profiles. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) delivers water from the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs — water that is naturally very soft and low-mineral. Soft water is significantly more corrosive toward lead than hard water, which is why MWRA applies orthophosphate corrosion inhibitor. Even with treatment, household plumbing after the meter is not within the utility's control. MassDEP enforces the Lead and Copper Rule and has required utilities to complete lead service line inventories.
Historical Context
Massachusetts enacted legislation requiring public water systems to develop lead service line replacement plans. Boston has a significant lead service line replacement challenge given its housing density and the age of its distribution system.
Massachusetts Utilities With Lead Violation Records
The utilities listed below have at least one lead violation on record in EPA's SDWIS database. Violations may be open or resolved — see individual utility pages for current status and risk level.
Boston Water and Sewer Commission (mwra)
Boston · 675,647 served
Worcester Dpwp, Water Supply Division
Worcester · 206,518 served
Springfield Water and Sewer Commission
Springfield · 167,954 served
Lowell Regional Water Utility
Lowell · 115,000 served
Quincy Water Dept. (mwra)
Quincy · 106,000 served
Falmouth Water Dept
Falmouth · 97,551 served
Fall River Water Department
Fall River · 94,000 served
Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board
Beverly · 90,330 served
Lawrence Water Works
Lawrence · 88,877 served
Newton Water Dept. (mwra)
Newton · 88,415 served
How Lead Gets Into Drinking Water
Lead service lines
The pipe connecting a home to the water main may be made of lead, especially in pre-1986 construction. Water sitting in these lines can accumulate lead before it reaches the tap.
Lead solder
Lead solder at pipe joints was banned for potable water systems in 1986. Homes built before that date — including significant portions of older Massachusetts cities — may still have lead solder throughout their plumbing.
Older brass fixtures
Faucets, valves, and fixtures with high lead content were common before the 2014 revision of 'lead-free' standards. Replacing older fixtures at kitchen and drinking taps can meaningfully reduce exposure.
Corrosive water chemistry
Soft, acidic, or low-alkalinity water dissolves lead from plumbing more readily. Utilities use orthophosphate and other corrosion control treatments, but household plumbing after the meter is not within their control.
Who Should Pay Closest Attention
Families with children under six in Boston's older triple-decker neighborhoods, renters throughout older Massachusetts cities, and any household in a pre-1951 Massachusetts home should use a certified NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 filter. Massachusetts has funded school water testing programs — the same principle applies to residential water.
Families with children under six
Pregnant residents
Households in homes built before 1986
Renters who cannot inspect building plumbing
Residents on a confirmed lead service line
Households that had plumbing work done recently (disturbances dislodge protective scale)
How to Check Your Situation in Massachusetts
- 1
Identify your water utility. Use the ZIP lookup below or browse the Massachusetts utility directory on this site.
- 2
Read your utility's page on this site to see its current risk level and any open lead violations.
- 3
Contact your utility and ask for your address-level service line material status. Under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), utilities must maintain and provide this information.
- 4
Review your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — mailed annually or available on the utility's website.
- 5
Consider testing your tap water at a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)-certified lab. Your state health department or Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) maintains a list of certified labs.
- 6
If you have young children or are pregnant, install a certified NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 filter at the kitchen tap as a precautionary measure.
Treatment Options
Boiling does not remove lead. Use a certified filter for drinking and cooking water.
NSF/ANSI Standard 53 — Activated Carbon Block
Under-sink or pitcher filters certified to Standard 53 are independently verified to reduce lead. Replace filters on the manufacturer's schedule — an overdue filter may not perform as certified.
NSF/ANSI Standard 58 — Reverse Osmosis
RO systems certified to Standard 58 remove 95–99% of lead and a broad range of contaminants. Requires under-sink installation. More comprehensive than Standard 53 for households with multiple contaminant concerns.
Flushing — temporary mitigation only
EPA recommends flushing the cold tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes if water has sat in pipes for 6+ hours. Not a substitute for certified filtration or service line replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
Lead — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with lead records
Massachusetts State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Nitrate in Drinking Water
A separate but common concern
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 95–99% of lead
Activated Carbon Filter Guide
NSF/ANSI 53 certified options
All Contaminants
Complete reference library
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.