We read 16 results from Newburyport Water Department’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit or above a health goal.
Serves about 20,335 people · Water system ID MA3206000 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range 0.81 to 1.74 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 5 | 1.39 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2024 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.1 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 10 to 29 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 5 | 23 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 26 to 73 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 5 | 49 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideas reported · range 0.1 to 0.9 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.9 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2024 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 5 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Manganeseas reported · range ND to 0.03 · printed as 29 ppb · Treated water · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.03 ppm | — | 0.05 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Nitrate (as N)as reported · range 0.3 to 2.03 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 5 | 2.03 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Perchlorateas reported · range 0.06 to 0.22 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.22 ppb | 1 ppb | 6 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · Treated water · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.17 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| Bromodichloromethaneas reported · range 2.2 to 4 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 6 | 4 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Chloroformas reported · range 3.3 to 4.8 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 6 | 4.8 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Dibromochloromethaneas reported · range 0.8 to 1.1 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 6 | 1.1 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Hardnessas reported · range 2.74 to 8.01 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 5 | 8.01 gpg (137 ppm) | — | — | Hard |
| PFAS (total of measured)highest running annual average · range 1.87 to 14.8 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 5 | 11.6 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumas reported · range ND to 36 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 6 | 36 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 Newburyport Water Department’s water between Feb 2024 and Nov 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOS4.6 pptFound in 1 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFBS3.4 pptFound in 2 of 6 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.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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