What was found in Stow'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 | 2600 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGES AT STOW · 300 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3255 µg/L — PILOT GROVE APARTMENTS · 175 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 180 µg/L 4.5% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGES AT STOW · 300 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 379 µg/L — ARBOR GLEN CONDOMINIUMS · 132 people · 2017 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 372.5 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Highest in the city: JUNIPER HILL WATER COMPANY · 220 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 8.49 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGES AT STOW · 300 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 35.55 µg/L — JUNIPER HILL WATER COMPANY · 220 people · 2018 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 20.355 µg/L 68% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: REGENCY AT STOW CONDOMINIUMS · 132 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 13 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: PILOT GROVE APARTMENTS II · 134 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 11.1 µg/L 111% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGES AT STOW · 300 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 2.8 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGES AT STOW · 300 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 8.881 µg/L — THE MEETING HOUSE @ STOW CONDO · 92 people · 2017 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.95 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Highest in the city: JUNIPER HILL WATER COMPANY · 220 people · 2016 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 4.464 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE MEETING HOUSE @ STOW CONDO · 92 people · 2017 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 3.1345 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE MEETING HOUSE @ STOW CONDO · 92 people · 2017 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.026 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: REGENCY AT STOW CONDOMINIUMS · 132 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.49 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGES AT STOW · 300 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1.782 µg/L — PILOT GROVE APARTMENTS · 175 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.49 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGES AT STOW · 300 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1.6875 µg/L — THE MEETING HOUSE @ STOW CONDO · 92 people · 2017 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 1.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGES AT STOW · 300 people · 2017 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 1.5 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGES AT STOW · 300 people · 2017 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.32 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PILOT GROVE APARTMENTS · 175 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.14 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE MEETING HOUSE @ STOW CONDO · 92 people · 2017 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: JUNIPER HILL WATER COMPANY · 220 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.7100 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: REGENCY AT STOW CONDOMINIUMS · 132 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.2200 µg/L 7.3% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Highest in the city: ELIZABETH BROOK APARTMENTS · 54 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: VILLAGES AT STOW · 300 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0029 mg/L — JUNIPER HILL WATER COMPANY · 220 people · 2025 | 8/8 | 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 Stow
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| VILLAGES AT STOW | 300 |
| JUNIPER HILL WATER COMPANY | 220 |
| PILOT GROVE APARTMENTS | 175 |
| PILOT GROVE APARTMENTS II | 134 |
| ARBOR GLEN CONDOMINIUMS | 132 |
| REGENCY AT STOW CONDOMINIUMS | 132 |
| THE MEETING HOUSE @ STOW CONDO | 92 |
| ELIZABETH BROOK APARTMENTS | 54 |
Frequently asked questions about Stow tap water
Is Stow tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Stow. 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 Stow?
8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Stow, Massachusetts to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Stow's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Stow include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Barium, Combined Uranium. 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.