We read 11 results from Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply’s 2023 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 2 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 41,946 people · Water system ID MA2097000 · Read the district’s 2023 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2023 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 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2022 · Customer taps · 2023 report, page 5 | 4 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal20x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)single sample · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2018 · Treated water · 2023 report, page 5 | 0.86 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.01 to 0.01 · listed as a violation in the report · Treated water · 2023 report, page 5 | 0.01 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range 0.44 to 0.86 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2023 report, page 5 | 0.86 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2022 · Customer taps · 2023 report, page 5 | 0.14 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 19 to 57 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2023 report, page 5 | 40 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 34 to 77 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2023 report, page 5 | 50 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.5 to 0.6 · listed as a violation in the report · Treated water · 2023 report, page 5 | 0.6 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range ND to 0.12 · listed as a violation in the report · Treated water · 2023 report, page 5 | 0.12 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Total dissolved solidssingle sample · Treated water · 2023 report, page 6 | 72 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Sodiumhighest measured · range 22 to 24 · Treated water · 2023 report, page 6 | 24 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.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Fitchburg Dpw Division of Water Supply’s water between Mar 2024 and Dec 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA4.9 pptFound in 1 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
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.
Radium and uranium
Found: Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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