What was found in Amherst's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 3161 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 916 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 128.65 µg/L 6.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 80.2 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 79.5 µg/L 133% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 76.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 65.02 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2013 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 41 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 34.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 32.75 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2017 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.86 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.68 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 5.675 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.5 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.615 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.09 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.9340 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.1060 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0080 mg/L 53% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION · 39,263 people · 2025 | 1/1 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Amherst
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| AMHERST DPW WATER DIVISION | 39,263 |
Frequently asked questions about Amherst tap water
Is Amherst tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 19 contaminants in the water serving Amherst. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Amherst?
1 public water supplier report drinking-water monitoring for Amherst, Massachusetts to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Amherst's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Amherst include Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.