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Lead Contamination

Lead in Massachusetts Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile lead level (ppb) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

280
Cities Tested
8
Exceeds Limit
3%
% Exceeds Limit
2.9 ppb
State Avg
▲ 1% vs national
vs National
263
Health Violations
Analysis

Lead in Massachusetts: what the data shows

Massachusetts has 280 cities with lead monitoring data, with some cities exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average 90th percentile lead level is 2.9 ppb, compared to 3.3 ppb nationally — worse than the national average. 8 cities exceed the 15 ppb action level. High lead levels in tap water typically indicate aging infrastructure — lead service lines, lead solder in older plumbing, or lead-containing brass fixtures. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. The 90th percentile measurement means that 90% of tap samples in a city are at or below the reported level. This is the standard EPA uses under the Lead and Copper Rule to determine if a water system needs to take corrective action. An NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter can effectively remove lead at the tap.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 15 ppb EPA Action Level

Massachusetts
3%
8 of 280 cities
→ ▲ 1% above national rate (worse)
National avg
2%
378 of 15681 cities
City Map

Lead data across Massachusetts

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with lead levels above the 15 ppb EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lead level in Massachusetts

Highest Lead levels (ppb)

  1. 1 B Boston 22.5 ppb Yes 3.3M
  2. 2 F Lee 21.0 ppb Yes 654
  3. 3 B- Malden 17.9 ppb Yes 66K
  4. 4 B+ Worthington 17.5 ppb Yes 565
  5. 5 B- Lancaster 16.9 ppb Yes 6K
  6. 6 C+ Hardwick 16.4 ppb Yes 2K
  7. 7 C+ Atkinson 16.0 ppb Yes 507
  8. 8 C Medford 15.5 ppb Yes 62K
  9. 9 B- Fall River 12.0 ppb 94K
  10. 10 C Upton 11.0 ppb 5K
All Cities

All Massachusetts cities ranked by lead level

# City Level Level Exceeds? Violations Grade
1 Boston 22.5 ppb
Yes 5
B
2 Lee 21.0 ppb
Yes 44
F
3 Malden 17.9 ppb
Yes 20
B-
4 Worthington 17.5 ppb
Yes 0
B+
5 Lancaster 16.9 ppb
Yes 30
B-
6 Hardwick 16.4 ppb
Yes 10
C+
7 Atkinson 16.0 ppb
Yes 7
C+
8 Medford 15.5 ppb
Yes 9
C
9 Fall River 12.0 ppb
No 11
B-
10 Upton 11.0 ppb
No 9
C
11 Melrose 10.2 ppb
No 16
B
12 Somerset 10.0 ppb
No 11
B
13 Ipswich 10.0 ppb
No 8
B
14 Holyoke 9.0 ppb
No 0
A-
15 Quincy 8.7 ppb
No 6
A-
16 Spencer 8.6 ppb
No 4
B
17 Reading 8.4 ppb
No 1
A-
18 Winthrop 8.3 ppb
No 8
B+
19 Grafton 8.3 ppb
No 25
F
20 Revere 8.1 ppb
No 13
B+
21 Cambridge 8.0 ppb
No 2
B+
22 Amherst 8.0 ppb
No 6
A-
23 Raynham 8.0 ppb
No 0
B+
24 Hanson 8.0 ppb
No 7
B+
25 Milton 7.7 ppb
No 6
B+
26 North Andover 7.2 ppb
No 5
A
27 Dartmouth 7.0 ppb
No 16
C+
28 Medfield 7.0 ppb
No 14
B+
29 Hinsdale 6.9 ppb
No 9
C+
30 Dover 6.7 ppb
No 20
C
31 Monson 6.4 ppb
No 5
A-
32 Greenfield 6.2 ppb
No 3
A-
33 Georgetown 6.0 ppb
No 8
C+
34 Edgartown 6.0 ppb
No 6
A
35 Halifax 6.0 ppb
No 1
C+
36 Everett 5.7 ppb
No 8
B+
37 Wilbraham 5.6 ppb
No 2
A-
38 Concord 5.1 ppb
No 4
B+
39 Fitchburg 5.0 ppb
No 9
B+
40 Needham 5.0 ppb
No 4
A-
41 Norwood 5.0 ppb
No 8
A-
42 Fairhaven 5.0 ppb
No 9
A
43 Westminster 5.0 ppb
No 29
B+
44 Braintree 4.8 ppb
No 1
B
45 East Brookfield 4.8 ppb
No 2
A-
46 Danvers 4.7 ppb
No 5
B+
47 Groton 4.7 ppb
No 5
B+
48 Chester 4.7 ppb
No 15
C
49 Hadley 4.6 ppb
No 7
A
50 Bourne 4.4 ppb
No 16
B-
51 Duxbury 4.4 ppb
No 4
B+
52 Harvard 4.3 ppb
No 17
F
53 Winchester 4.2 ppb
No 5
C-
54 Wayland 4.2 ppb
No 11
B+
55 Peabody 4.2 ppb
No 7
B
56 New Bedford 4.1 ppb
No 2
A-
57 Brockton 4.0 ppb
No 5
A-
58 Mattapoisett 4.0 ppb
No 9
A
59 Marshfield 4.0 ppb
No 9
B-
60 Abington 4.0 ppb
No 14
B
61 Bedford 4.0 ppb
No 35
B+
62 South Hadley 4.0 ppb
No 16
A-
63 Hanover 4.0 ppb
No 12
C-
64 Norwell 4.0 ppb
No 5
B+
65 Sterling 4.0 ppb
No 11
B
66 Marion 4.0 ppb
No 15
A-
67 Somerville 3.9 ppb
No 12
B+
68 Oak Bluffs 3.9 ppb
No 18
B+
69 Sunderland 3.9 ppb
No 8
B
70 Russell 3.7 ppb
No 5
A-
71 Acton 3.6 ppb
No 28
F
72 Bellingham 3.6 ppb
No 21
B-
73 Springfield 3.5 ppb
No 11
B+
74 Wellesley 3.5 ppb
No 20
B
75 Sudbury 3.5 ppb
No 10
B-
76 Brewster 3.4 ppb
No 1
B+
77 Deerfield 3.4 ppb
No 9
C+
78 Marlborough 3.3 ppb
No 5
A-
79 Holden 3.1 ppb
No 18
B
80 Lynnfield 3.1 ppb
No 7
B
81 Boylston 3.1 ppb
No 11
B
82 Randolph 3.0 ppb
No 8
B+
83 Plymouth 3.0 ppb
No 20
F
84 Gloucester 3.0 ppb
No 4
A
85 Bridgewater 3.0 ppb
No 5
C+
86 Milford 3.0 ppb
No 15
F
87 Stoughton 3.0 ppb
No 13
B
88 Gardner 3.0 ppb
No 7
A-
89 Southbridge 3.0 ppb
No 3
A
90 Pembroke 3.0 ppb
No 16
A
91 Sharon 3.0 ppb
No 5
D+
92 Middleborough 3.0 ppb
No 16
B
93 Belchertown 3.0 ppb
No 26
B-
94 Hatfield 3.0 ppb
No 3
A-
95 West Brookfield 3.0 ppb
No 28
B-
96 Westford 2.9 ppb
No 9
B
97 Holliston 2.9 ppb
No 11
C-
98 Leominster 2.8 ppb
No 12
B
99 Ayer 2.8 ppb
No 4
B
100 Arlington 2.8 ppb
No 4
A-
101 Hudson 2.7 ppb
No 7
F
102 Hamilton 2.7 ppb
No 11
A-
103 Northampton 2.6 ppb
No 5
A-
104 Webster 2.6 ppb
No 19
B
105 Southwick 2.6 ppb
No 9
A-
106 Orange 2.6 ppb
No 5
A
107 Great Barrington 2.6 ppb
No 12
C+
108 Hopedale 2.6 ppb
No 8
B+
109 Easthampton 2.5 ppb
No 8
A
110 Nahant 2.4 ppb
No 9
A-
111 Chelsea 2.4 ppb
No 17
A-
112 Lynn 2.4 ppb
No 5
A-
113 Billerica 2.4 ppb
No 7
B+
114 Chelmsford 2.4 ppb
No 1
B-
115 Maynard 2.4 ppb
No 8
B-
116 Lunenburg 2.4 ppb
No 11
A-
117 Douglas 2.4 ppb
No 13
A
118 Stockbridge 2.4 ppb
No 15
B+
119 Whately 2.4 ppb
No 0
B+
120 Swampscott 2.3 ppb
No 9
A-
121 Palmer 2.3 ppb
No 11
B
122 Shelburne 2.3 ppb
No 4
A
123 Egremont 2.3 ppb
No 3
A-
124 Burlington 2.2 ppb
No 7
B+
125 Southampton 2.2 ppb
No 4
A-
126 Lanesborough 2.2 ppb
No 10
A-
127 Hancock 2.2 ppb
No 5
A-
128 Marblehead 2.1 ppb
No 7
A-
129 Weston 2.0 ppb
No 16
A-
130 Worcester 2.0 ppb
No 3
B
131 Dighton 2.0 ppb
No 7
D+
132 Attleboro 2.0 ppb
No 3
A-
133 Dedham 2.0 ppb
No 1
B+
134 Franklin 2.0 ppb
No 11
B+
135 Nantucket 2.0 ppb
No 12
D
136 Wareham 2.0 ppb
No 22
B
137 Mansfield 2.0 ppb
No 6
A-
138 Provincetown 2.0 ppb
No 5
A
139 Salisbury 2.0 ppb
No 0
A-
140 Scituate 2.0 ppb
No 10
C
141 Swansea 2.0 ppb
No 12
B+
142 Plainville 2.0 ppb
No 9
B
143 Acushnet 2.0 ppb
No 2
A-
144 Cohasset 2.0 ppb
No 2
B
145 Sutton 2.0 ppb
No 17
B
146 Waltham 1.9 ppb
No 11
A-
147 Auburn 1.9 ppb
No 16
D+
148 Huntington 1.9 ppb
No 4
C+
149 West Stockbridge 1.9 ppb
No 3
A-
150 Wellfleet 1.9 ppb
No 7
C+
151 Taunton 1.8 ppb
No 1
B+
152 Walpole 1.8 ppb
No 6
A-
153 Wilmington 1.8 ppb
No 5
A-
154 Westborough 1.8 ppb
No 13
D
155 Lexington 1.8 ppb
No 7
B+
156 Beverly 1.7 ppb
No 0
A-
157 Barnstable 1.7 ppb
No 34
D+
158 Pittsfield 1.7 ppb
No 2
A-
159 North Reading 1.7 ppb
No 9
A-
160 Framingham 1.6 ppb
No 4
A-
161 Methuen 1.6 ppb
No 1
A
162 West Springfield 1.6 ppb
No 7
A
163 Ashland 1.6 ppb
No 7
A-
164 Merrimac 1.6 ppb
No 11
B
165 Townsend 1.6 ppb
No 14
B
166 Rutland 1.6 ppb
No 22
C-
167 Wenham 1.6 ppb
No 9
A-
168 Wakefield 1.5 ppb
No 10
B+
169 Chicopee 1.5 ppb
No 0
A-
170 Yarmouth 1.5 ppb
No 7
A-
171 Agawam 1.5 ppb
No 8
A-
172 Belmont 1.5 ppb
No 5
B+
173 Longmeadow 1.5 ppb
No 18
B
174 Millis 1.5 ppb
No 4
B+
175 Barre 1.5 ppb
No 20
C
176 Stoneham 1.4 ppb
No 15
A-
177 Saugus 1.4 ppb
No 10
A-
178 Canton 1.4 ppb
No 11
A-
179 East Longmeadow 1.4 ppb
No 5
A-
180 Shirley 1.4 ppb
No 18
C
181 Manchester 1.4 ppb
No 7
A-
182 Sturbridge 1.4 ppb
No 7
B+
183 Avon 1.4 ppb
No 5
A
184 Mashpee 1.4 ppb
No 4
B
185 Ashburnham 1.3 ppb
No 11
B+
186 Seekonk 1.3 ppb
No 7
A-
187 Uxbridge 1.3 ppb
No 2
A-
188 Bernardston 1.3 ppb
No 7
B
189 Bolton 1.3 ppb
No 4
B+
190 Gill 1.3 ppb
No 0
A-
191 Brookline 1.3 ppb
No 6
A-
192 Newton 1.3 ppb
No 8
B
193 Woburn 1.3 ppb
No 5
B+
194 Amesbury 1.2 ppb
No 0
A
195 Dudley 1.2 ppb
No 14
B+
196 Warren 1.2 ppb
No 20
C+
197 Falmouth 1.1 ppb
No 23
B
198 Chatham 1.1 ppb
No 19
A
199 Pepperell 1.1 ppb
No 12
B-
200 Dalton 1.1 ppb
No 6
A
201 Watertown 1.1 ppb
No 5
A-
202 Athol 1.1 ppb
No 3
A
203 Weymouth 1.0 ppb
No 6
A
204 Hingham 1.0 ppb
No 2
C+
205 North Attleborough 1.0 ppb
No 15
F
206 Easton 1.0 ppb
No 3
A-
207 Norton 1.0 ppb
No 10
B+
208 Kingston 1.0 ppb
No 12
C
209 East Bridgewater 1.0 ppb
No 6
B+
210 Holbrook 1.0 ppb
No 15
B+
211 Southborough 1.0 ppb
No 5
A
212 Lincoln 1.0 ppb
No 8
B+
213 West Bridgewater 1.0 ppb
No 4
A-
214 Winchendon 1.0 ppb
No 13
A-
215 West Newbury 1.0 ppb
No 3
A
216 Williamsburg 1.0 ppb
No 9
A
217 Chilmark 1.0 ppb
No 10
D+
218 Granby 1.0 ppb
No 13
B
219 Mendon 1.0 ppb
No 4
A-
220 Northborough 0.9 ppb
No 10
B
221 Brookfield 0.9 ppb
No 17
B
222 Westfield 0.9 ppb
No 7
B+
223 Lee 0.9 ppb
No 11
B+
224 Cheshire 0.9 ppb
No 6
A-
225 Carver 0.8 ppb
No 23
C-
226 Tyngsborough 0.6 ppb
No 9
C-
227 Berlin 0.6 ppb
No 4
C
228 Boxborough 0.5 ppb
No 14
D+
229 Williamstown 0.3 ppb
No 10
A-
230 Lowell 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
231 Lawrence 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
232 Sandwich 0.0 ppb
No 13
A
233 Dennis 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
234 Haverhill 0.0 ppb
No 1
C
235 Salem 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
236 Harwich 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
237 Shrewsbury 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
238 Natick 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
239 Andover 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
240 Dracut 0.0 ppb
No 5
B
241 Tewksbury 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
242 Newburyport 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
243 Orleans 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
244 Foxborough 0.0 ppb
No 11
A-
245 Northbridge 0.0 ppb
No 8
A-
246 Clinton 0.0 ppb
No 17
A-
247 Whitman 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
248 Medway 0.0 ppb
No 14
B-
249 North Adams 0.0 ppb
No 5
B
250 Hopkinton 0.0 ppb
No 24
B-
251 Wrentham 0.0 ppb
No 64
F
252 Millbury 0.0 ppb
No 4
C
253 Ware 0.0 ppb
No 11
B
254 Rockport 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
255 Blackstone 0.0 ppb
No 9
B+
256 Norfolk 0.0 ppb
No 12
F
257 Lenox 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
258 Littleton 0.0 ppb
No 13
A-
259 Leicester 0.0 ppb
No 121
D
260 Montague 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
261 Adams 0.0 ppb
No 6
A+
262 Oxford 0.0 ppb
No 7
C+
263 Middleton 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
264 West Boylston 0.0 ppb
No 22
B
265 Groveland 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
266 Rowley 0.0 ppb
No 10
B
267 Eastham 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
268 Tisbury 0.0 ppb
No 9
B+
269 Templeton 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
270 Topsfield 0.0 ppb
No 8
B+
271 Paxton 0.0 ppb
No 11
A-
272 North Brookfield 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
273 Essex 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
274 Newbury 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
275 Freetown 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
276 Northfield 0.0 ppb
No 7
A-
277 Colchester 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
278 Westport 0.0 ppb
No 16
B
279 Erving 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
280 Preble (T) 0.0 ppb
No 10
C+
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in Massachusetts

Is lead in Massachusetts tap water a concern?

Yes — 8 of 280 cities with lead data exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average is 2.9 ppb. Even below the action level, lead poses health risks especially for children and pregnant women. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly.

How can I reduce lead exposure from Massachusetts tap water?

Use an NSF 53-certified water filter, which is specifically certified to reduce lead. Run your cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for hours. Never use hot tap water for cooking or making baby formula, as heat increases lead leaching from pipes.

Which Massachusetts cities have the highest lead levels?

The cities with the highest 90th percentile lead levels in Massachusetts are: Boston (22.5 ppb), Lee (21.0 ppb), Malden (17.9 ppb), Worthington (17.5 ppb), Lancaster (16.9 ppb). See the full ranked table above.

More contaminants

Other contaminants in Massachusetts

PFAS in Massachusetts
Ranked by compounds detected
→
Copper in Massachusetts
Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)
→
HAA5 in Massachusetts
Ranked by average concentration (µg/L)
→
Chromium-6 in Massachusetts
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Arsenic in Massachusetts
Ranked by violation count
→
Nitrate in Massachusetts
Ranked by violation count
→
Strontium in Massachusetts
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
1,4-Dioxane in Massachusetts
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Manganese in Massachusetts
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Vanadium in Massachusetts
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Chlorate in Massachusetts
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Molybdenum in Massachusetts
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Cobalt in Massachusetts
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Lithium in Massachusetts
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
NDMA in Massachusetts
Ranked by max detected (ng/L)
→
Perchlorate in Massachusetts
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
All states

Lead in drinking water by state

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaQCRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
← Lead contamination overview Explore Massachusetts water quality → National Lead map →