What was found in Palmer'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 | 496.3 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4800 µg/L — BONDSVILLE FIRE AND WATER DISTRICT · 1,429 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 16.575 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 227.25 µg/L — THORNDIKE FIRE AND WATER DISTRICT · 1,435 people · 2018 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 140 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2013
Highest in the city: 200 µg/L — BONDSVILLE FIRE AND WATER DISTRICT · 1,429 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 16.23 µg/L 0.8% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2013
Highest in the city: 190 µg/L — BONDSVILLE FIRE AND WATER DISTRICT · 1,429 people · 2017 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 34.075 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 26.06 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 19.9625 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.3 µg/L — THORNDIKE FIRE AND WATER DISTRICT · 1,435 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 20.515 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 13.9 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: BONDSVILLE FIRE AND WATER DISTRICT · 1,429 people · 2017 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 10.315 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 9.3425 µg/L 62% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Highest in the city: THORNDIKE FIRE AND WATER DISTRICT · 1,435 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 9.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 8.6885 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 4.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 3.152 µg/L 63% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.1735 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: THREE RIVERS FIRE DISTRICT · 3,258 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.1 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2013 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.705 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 1.39 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.9000 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.6950 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: THREE RIVERS FIRE DISTRICT · 3,258 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0049 mg/L 33% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 · 4,789 people · 2024 | 5/5 | 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 Palmer
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PALMER WATER DISTRICT NO.1 | 4,789 |
| THREE RIVERS FIRE DISTRICT | 3,258 |
| THORNDIKE FIRE AND WATER DISTRICT | 1,435 |
| BONDSVILLE FIRE AND WATER DISTRICT | 1,429 |
| BRETON ESTATES | 48 |
Frequently asked questions about Palmer tap water
Is Palmer tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Palmer. 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 Palmer?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Palmer, Massachusetts to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Palmer's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Palmer include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Barium, 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.