What was found in Leicester'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 | 2170 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: LEICESTER WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT · 3,200 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 620 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: LEICESTER WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT · 3,200 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 248 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2016 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 110 µg/L 138% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 98.38 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 54.76 µg/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: LEICESTER WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT · 3,200 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 32.1 µg/L 54% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 29.81 µg/L 99% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: LEICESTER WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT · 3,200 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 10.7 µg/L 0.8% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.25 µg/L — STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTRY ESTATES · 140 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 21.6 µg/L 216% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Highest in the city: LEICESTER WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT · 3,200 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 16 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 14.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 11.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.1515 µg/L — LEICESTER WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT · 3,200 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5.1 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: LEICESTER WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT · 3,200 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4.62 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.99 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LEICESTER WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT · 3,200 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.55 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LEICESTER WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT · 3,200 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.255 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0068 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0015 mg/L 10% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT · 3,696 people · 2025 | 4/4 | LCR |
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 Leicester
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CHERRY VALLEY/ ROCHDALE WATER DISTRICT | 3,696 |
| LEICESTER WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT | 3,200 |
| HILLCREST WATER DISTRICT | 1,500 |
| STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTRY ESTATES | 140 |
Frequently asked questions about Leicester tap water
Is Leicester tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Leicester. 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 Leicester?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Leicester, Massachusetts to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Leicester's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Leicester include Nitrate, Fluoride, Chlorite, TTHM, Chloroform. 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.