PFAS in Drinking Water in Massachusetts
What residents of Massachusetts need to know about PFAS ("forever chemicals") in drinking water — including contamination sources, which utilities have documented violations, and how to filter PFAS from tap water.
Source: EPA SDWIS, Massachusetts Environmental Protection / Drinking Water Program, CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is PFAS in drinking water a real concern in Massachusetts?
Yes — Massachusetts has significant PFAS contamination from multiple military sources and has been one of the most proactive states in the country on PFAS regulation. Former South Weymouth Naval Air Station, Fort Devens (now Devens Reserve Forces Training Area), and Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod have all generated major PFAS plumes. The Otis/Cape Cod contamination is one of the most studied PFAS plumes in the nation.
Where does PFAS come from in Massachusetts?
Cape Cod's sole-source aquifer is the most critically affected water resource in Massachusetts — PFAS from Otis ANG Base has contaminated portions of this aquifer that supplies drinking water to multiple Cape towns. South Weymouth NAS (now SouthField development) contaminated groundwater in the South Shore suburbs of Boston. Fort Devens has generated PFAS plumes in north-central Massachusetts. Massachusetts also has a significant industrial PFAS legacy in the Merrimack Valley and Pioneer Valley from manufacturing.
What should Massachusetts residents know?
Massachusetts set its own MCL of 20 ppt for a sum of six PFAS compounds in 2020, one of the earliest and most protective state standards in the country. This has driven aggressive testing and some treatment installation. The new federal 4 ppt MCL will require additional treatment at systems that previously met the state standard. Cape Cod residents should specifically review Otis ANG Base PFAS monitoring data for their community water systems.
Key Facts
| EPA MCL (PFOA/PFOS) | 4 ppt — effective April 2024 |
| Massachusetts MCL | 20 ppt (sum of 6 PFAS) — effective 2020; one of first state PFAS drinking water standards |
| MCLG | Zero |
| Primary contamination sources | Otis ANG Base (Cape Cod sole-source aquifer), former South Weymouth NAS (South Shore), Fort Devens (north-central MA) |
| Critical resource at risk | Cape Cod sole-source aquifer — PFAS contamination from Otis is a multi-decade concern |
| State regulator | Massachusetts Drinking Water Program (MassDEP) |
| Health effects | Cancer (kidney, testicular), thyroid disruption, immune suppression, developmental effects |
| Effective treatment | GAC or RO; Massachusetts utilities have installed some of the earliest utility-scale PFAS treatment in U.S. |
Why PFAS Matters in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has been at the forefront of both PFAS contamination discovery and regulatory response. The Cape Cod PFAS plume from Otis ANG Base is one of the most extensively studied in the country — PFAS contamination of the Cape Cod aquifer was documented in the 1980s (though as different contaminants at that time) and PFAS specifically has been monitored for years. South Weymouth NAS contamination has affected Rockland, Weymouth, and adjacent South Shore communities. Fort Devens has required extensive groundwater monitoring and remediation in north-central Massachusetts. The state's 20 ppt PFAS MCL has already required dozens of utilities to install treatment.
Historical Context
Otis ANG Base on Cape Cod became one of the first U.S. military installations to be linked to serious aquifer contamination — the installation was named a Superfund site in 1989, initially for other contaminants, and PFAS monitoring was added as PFAS science evolved. The Cape Cod aquifer contamination has been a reference case in PFAS policy discussions for over a decade.
Massachusetts PFAS Regulation
State MCL — Stricter Than Federal
20 ppt for the sum of 6 PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFDA, PFUnDA) — adopted 2020.
Massachusetts MassDEP adopted a 20 ppt limit for the sum of six PFAS compounds in 2020 — one of the first state standards and stricter than the original EPA advisory. The state has required public water systems above 10,000 customers to monitor since 2020, building an extensive compliance dataset. Massachusetts PFAS contamination is concentrated around the former Otis ANG Base on Cape Cod (Barnstable County) and Saint-Gobain manufacturing in Devens/Lunenburg and Hoosick Falls-adjacent communities.
Largest Massachusetts Water Utilities
No PFAS violations on record in EPA SDWIS for Massachusetts utilities in our database. Browse the largest utilities to review their full water quality record.
What Are PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)?
PFAS are a family of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals used in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and AFFF firefighting foam. Their carbon-fluorine bonds do not break down in the environment or the body — hence the name “forever chemicals.” AFFF used at military bases is the single largest source of PFAS in U.S. drinking water.
Full PFAS overview — national data, health effects, all 50 statesWho Should Pay Closest Attention
Cape Cod residents (especially those on community wells in Barnstable, Bourne, and Sandwich), South Shore residents near former South Weymouth NAS, and communities near Fort Devens in Middlesex and Worcester counties face the highest risk. Private well users on Cape Cod are especially vulnerable given the sole-source aquifer contamination.
Residents near military bases with AFFF use history
Private well owners near military or industrial sites
Pregnant residents and families with young children
Residents in communities with documented PFAS detections
Anyone who has consumed water above 4 ppt for an extended period
Residents near airports, fire training areas, or industrial manufacturers
How to Check Your Situation in Massachusetts
- 1
Identify your water utility using the ZIP lookup below or by browsing the Massachusetts utility directory on this site.
- 2
Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — it must report PFAS monitoring results under UCMR5 and the new MCL.
- 3
Check the EPA's ECHO database for your utility's monitoring history. Look for PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, and related compound results.
- 4
Contact your utility directly and ask for their most recent PFAS test results and whether they are implementing treatment under the 2024 MCL.
- 5
If you use a private well near a military base, airport, or industrial facility, order a PFAS panel test from a state-certified laboratory. Tests typically cost $150–$400.
- 6
If PFAS is detected above 4 ppt in your source water, install a certified NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system or an NSF/ANSI 53-certified activated carbon filter rated for PFAS removal.
How to Remove PFAS from Tap Water
Reverse Osmosis (Best)
90–99% removal — NSF/ANSI 58 certified systems only
Certified Activated Carbon
Effective with NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification — verify before buying
Boiling concentrates PFAS. Standard pitcher filters and water softeners do not remove PFAS. Always verify NSF certification before purchasing.
Take Action Now
Look up your Massachusetts utility's PFAS monitoring history on the PFAS Watchlist below.
If your utility has detected PFAS above 4 ppt, install an NSF/ANSI 58-certified reverse osmosis system at your drinking tap.
Private well owners near military or industrial sites should order a PFAS panel test ($150–$400 at a state-certified lab).
Request your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report — PFAS results must be disclosed under the new 2024 MCL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
PFAS — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with PFAS records
Massachusetts PFAS Watchlist
Live utility PFAS monitoring data
Massachusetts State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 90–99% of PFAS
Activated Carbon Filter Guide
NSF/ANSI 53/58 certified options for PFAS
Arsenic in Drinking Water
Another priority contaminant
All Contaminants
Complete reference library
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.