We read 19 results from Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 4 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 16,061 people · Water system ID MA2025000 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper90th percentile of 62 homes tested, 0 over the action level · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.43 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal1.4x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)highest measured · range 2.73 to 2.91 · 2025 report, page 7 | 2.91 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of 62 homes tested, 0 over the action level · 2025 report, page 6 | 3.6 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal18x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · range 0.33 to 1.47 · 2025 report, page 7 | 1.47 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Atrazinehighest measured · range 0.06 to 0.11 · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.11 ppb | 0.15 ppb | 3 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.01 to 0.03 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.03 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range 0.47 to 0.84 · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.84 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 22 to 54 · 2025 report, page 7 | 54 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 55 to 74 · 2025 report, page 7 | 74 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Ironaverage · range 0.01 to 0.32 · printed as 118.5 ppb · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.12 ppm | — | 0.3 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Manganeseaverage · range 0.0038 to 0.04 · printed as 14.9 ppb · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.01 ppm | — | 0.05 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.39 to 0.82 · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.82 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Perchloratehighest measured · range 0.16 to 0.23 · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.23 ppb | 1 ppb | 6 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Bromodichloromethaneaverage · range 2.6 to 6 · 2025 report, page 7 | 4.3 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Chloroformaverage · range 0.91 to 6.5 · 2025 report, page 7 | 4.47 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Dibromochloromethaneaverage · range 1.9 to 2.8 · 2025 report, page 7 | 2.26 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFAS (total of measured)highest running annual average · range 2.4 to 18 · 2025 report, page 6 | 18 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)average · range 1.9 to 4.3 · 2025 report, page 7 | 2.9 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHxA (a PFAS)average · range 1.8 to 3.5 · 2025 report, page 7 | 2.61 ppt | 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.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Bellingham Dpw Water Sewer Division’s water between Sep 2024 and Mar 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA4.3 pptFound in 2 of 4 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS5 pptFound in 1 of 4 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFBS4.1 pptFound in 2 of 4 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: Copper, Lead
What removes it: Reverse osmosis or Certified carbon block or RO.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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