We read 21 results from Westford Water Department’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 4 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 18,680 people · Water system ID MA3330000 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
Open this district in the water lookupCompare with your own test results, see the district map and get matched filters.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.1 to 1.2 · 2025 report, page 4 | 1.2 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Above the health goal1.2x the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of 60 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 6 | 2.9 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal14x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)average · range 4.5 to 8.6 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 6 | 7 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 20 ppt (Massachusetts) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.8x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029; below the 20 ppt Massachusetts limit (for the sum of 6 PFAS)Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)average · range 3.9 to 4.4 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 6 | 4.2 ppt | 1 ppt | 20 ppt (Massachusetts) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.1x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029; below the 20 ppt Massachusetts limit (for the sum of 6 PFAS)Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.01 to 0.02 · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.02 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range 0.01 to 1.72 · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.97 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of 60 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.13 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 5.7 to 20 · 2025 report, page 4 | 20 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 14 to 56 · 2025 report, page 4 | 64 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 1.2 to 2.23 · 2025 report, page 4 | 2.23 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Perchloratehighest measured · range 0.06 to 0.16 · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.15 ppb | 1 ppb | 6 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Sulfateaverage · range 12.5 to 15.1 · 2025 report, page 6 | 13.8 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Bromodichloromethaneaverage · range 4.2 to 5.3 · 2025 report, page 6 | 4.75 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Bromoformaverage · range 0.8 to 0.9 · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.85 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Chloroformaverage · range 2.7 to 3.4 · 2025 report, page 6 | 3.05 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Dibromochloromethaneaverage · range 5 to 6.3 · 2025 report, page 6 | 5.65 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFAS (total of measured)highest running annual average · range 11.7 to 18.4 · 2025 report, page 5 | 17 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)average · range 1.6 to 3 · 2025 report, page 5 | 2.3 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHxA (a PFAS)average · range 2.3 to 5.1 · 2025 report, page 5 | 3.7 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFPeA (a PFAS)average · range 3.6 to 4.3 · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 5 | 4 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumaverage · range 65.7 to 72.2 · 2025 report, page 6 | 69 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 Westford Water Department’s water between Jan 2023 and Oct 2023. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA8.6 pptFound in 5 of 7 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS4.4 pptFound in 2 of 7 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFBS3.2 pptFound in 3 of 7 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.
Fluoride
Found: Fluoride
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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