What was found in Tewksbury'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 | 860 µg/L 8.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2905 µg/L — TEWKSBURY HOSPITAL · 2,500 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 1395.5 µg/L 140% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: TEWKSBURY HOSPITAL · 2,500 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1000 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 460 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 87.1 µg/L 109% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 63.96 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 18.65 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 41.7 µg/L — TEWKSBURY HOSPITAL · 2,500 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 31.71 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Highest in the city: TEWKSBURY HOSPITAL · 2,500 people · 2013 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 27.605 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.9 µg/L — TEWKSBURY HOSPITAL · 2,500 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 17.54 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.95 µg/L — TEWKSBURY HOSPITAL · 2,500 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 11.84 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 9.095 µg/L 91% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: TEWKSBURY HOSPITAL · 2,500 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.375 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.36 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.16 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.3110 µg/L 6.2% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: TEWKSBURY HOSPITAL · 2,500 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| PFOA | 0.0050 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0040 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0040 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0010 mg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT · 31,342 people · 2023 | 2/2 | 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 Tewksbury
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| TEWKSBURY WATER DEPARTMENT | 31,342 |
| TEWKSBURY HOSPITAL | 2,500 |
Frequently asked questions about Tewksbury tap water
Is Tewksbury tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Tewksbury. 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 Tewksbury?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Tewksbury, Massachusetts to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Tewksbury's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Tewksbury include Nitrate, Nitrite, Fluoride, Chlorite, 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.