We read 13 results from Holden Water Division, Dpw’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 4 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 17,951 people · Water system ID MA2134000 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenichighest measured · range ND to 4.3 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 6 | 4.3 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal1,075x the health goal |
| Copper90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 9 | 0.99 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal3.3x the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · printed as 0.0031 ppm · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 9 | 3.1 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal16x the health goal |
| Trichloroethylene (TCE)highest measured · range ND to 1.9 · 2025 report, page 7 | 1.9 ppb | 1.7 ppb | 5 ppb | Above the health goal1.1x the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.009 to 0.04 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.04 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range ND to 0.76 · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.76 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylenehighest measured · range ND to 0.6 · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.6 ppb | 70 ppb | 70 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range ND to 58 · 2025 report, page 7 | 40 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 4.6 to 85 · 2025 report, page 7 | 48 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideas reported · range 0.4 to 0.8 · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.9 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.17 to 1.63 · 2025 report, page 6 | 1.63 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Perchloratehighest measured · range 0.05 to 0.1 · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.1 ppb | 1 ppb | 6 ppb | Below the health goal |
| PFAS (total of measured)highest measured · range ND to 5.7 · 2025 report, page 6 | 5.7 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 Holden Water Division, Dpw’s water between Apr 2023 and Jan 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA4.9 pptFound in 3 of 10 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFBS3.3 pptFound in 2 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: Copper, Lead
What removes it: Reverse osmosis or Certified carbon block or RO.
Industrial chemicals and pesticides
Found: Trichloroethylene (TCE)
What removes it: Carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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