We read 21 results from Acton Water Supply District’s 2024 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 1 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 20,780 people · Water system ID MA2002000 · Read the district’s 2024 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2024 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead90th percentile of 123 homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2025 · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 7 | 3.6 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal18x the health goal |
| Aluminumas reported · printed as 52 ppb · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 0.05 ppm | — | 0.2 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.01 to 0.02 · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 0.02 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chloridehighest measured · range 105 to 144 · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 144 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range 0.02 to 0.88 · sampled 2025 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 7 | 0.24 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 2.9 to 19 · sampled 2025 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 7 | 12 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 22.4 to 40.6 · sampled 2025 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 7 | 35 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.5 to 0.8 · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 0.8 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.27 to 1.62 · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 1.62 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Perchloratehighest measured · range 0.08 to 0.48 · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 0.48 ppb | 1 ppb | 6 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Sulfatehighest measured · range 14.4 to 29.2 · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 29.2 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · range 0.02 to 0.15 · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 0.15 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| 1,4-Dioxanehighest measured · range 0.16 to 0.2 · printed as 200 ppt · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 0.2 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Bromodichloromethanehighest measured · range 7.7 to 14.8 · sampled 2025 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 7 | 14.8 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Bromoformhighest measured · range 0.7 to 2 · sampled 2025 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 7 | 2 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Chloroformhighest measured · range 6.7 to 20.6 · sampled 2025 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 7 | 20.6 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Dibromochloromethanehighest measured · range 3.7 to 11.4 · sampled 2025 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 7 | 11.4 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFAS (total of measured)highest running annual average · range 10 to 19 · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 17.2 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)average · range 1.9 to 4 · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 2.9 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHxA (a PFAS)average · range 2 to 5.9 · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 4.1 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumhighest measured · range 42.6 to 58.8 · sampled 2025 · Blended wellfields · 2024 report, page 7 | 58.8 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 1 number we weren’t sure about is held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Acton Water Supply District’s water between Mar 2023 and Jan 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA13.4 pptFound in 10 of 10 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS4.9 pptFound in 6 of 10 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS3.2 pptFound in 1 of 10 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS3.7 pptFound in 5 of 10 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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