What was found in Ipswich'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 | 4210 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1345 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 502 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 98.8 µg/L 7.6% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2017 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 76.4 µg/L 96% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 74.3 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 57.24 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 19.75 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 13.55 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 8.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 6.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 5.85 µg/L 59% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.995 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.37 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.199 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.8335 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 1.6 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0206 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2024 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0195 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2024 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0100 mg/L 67% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2025 | 1/1 | LCR |
| PFOA | 0.0073 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2024 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0066 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2024 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0048 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2024 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0041 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT · 13,138 people · 2024 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Ipswich
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT | 13,138 |
Frequently asked questions about Ipswich tap water
Is Ipswich tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 26 contaminants in the water serving Ipswich. 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 Ipswich?
1 public water supplier report drinking-water monitoring for Ipswich, Massachusetts to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Ipswich's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Ipswich include Nitrate, Fluoride, Chlorite, Copper, TTHM. 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.