What was found in Shirley'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 | 2000 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 170 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 80 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 3 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 15.8 µg/L — MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 5.126 µg/L 6.4% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.02 µg/L — MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 11 µg/L — MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.414 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.6 µg/L — MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.733 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.05 µg/L — MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.31 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.46 µg/L — MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 0.6200 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.78 µg/L — MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.48 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 2.3 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Highest in the city: MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 1.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2017 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| PFHXS | 0.0087 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MCI SHIRLEY · 3,500 people · 2023 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0071 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0069 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0052 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0037 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0030 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0021 mg/L 14% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT · 4,165 people · 2025 | 3/3 | 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 Shirley
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SHIRLEY WATER DISTRICT | 4,165 |
| MCI SHIRLEY | 3,500 |
| WOODLAND RIDGE | 125 |
Frequently asked questions about Shirley tap water
Is Shirley tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Shirley. 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 Shirley?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Shirley, Massachusetts to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Shirley's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Shirley 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.