What was found in Cambridge'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 | 280 µg/L 2.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 670 µg/L — JEFFERSONVILLE WATER SYSTEM · 700 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 180 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 608 µg/L — JEFFERSONVILLE WATER SYSTEM · 700 people · 2017 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 600 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: JEFFERSONVILLE WATER SYSTEM · 700 people · 2012 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 170 µg/L 4.3% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2016 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 124 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 93.025 µg/L 116% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 83.275 µg/L 139% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 69.05 µg/L 460% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 47.92 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 38.45 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 10 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2016 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 5.715 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 4.32 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE WATER · 262 people · 2014 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 3 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2012 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.88 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 2.04 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.2150 pCi/L 4.3% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1.199 pCi/L — JEFFERSONVILLE WATER SYSTEM · 700 people · 2013 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.5000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0049 mg/L 33% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM · 2,960 people · 2023 | 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 Cambridge
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SMUGGLERS NOTCH WATER SYSTEM | 2,960 |
| JEFFERSONVILLE WATER SYSTEM | 700 |
| CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE WATER | 262 |
Frequently asked questions about Cambridge tap water
Is Cambridge tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 21 contaminants in the water serving Cambridge. 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 Cambridge?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Cambridge, Vermont to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Cambridge's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Cambridge include Nitrate, Copper, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, 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.