In many regions in the United States, despite advanced water treatment processes, city water quality isn’t good. Tap water contaminants in Massachusetts, like lead and chlorine byproducts, find their way into our water supply and make it unhealthy for both adults and young children.
Also, in many areas in our state, people rely on water from wells, rivers, and lakes. So, if you’re living in Massachusetts, you should know about the most common water contaminants in our water, their health effects, and how we can make it safe for us and our families.
As part of our mission to bring about pure and safe water across Massachusetts, we’ve put together this simple guide to raise the knowledge of people about poor water quality and its impacts on our health.
Whether you’re using city water or well water in Massachusetts, Project Clean Water is here to bring the purest water to your homes and workplaces.
Call 339-675-2027 for more information.
Massachusetts Tap Water Quality
For decades, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) has been employing different water treatment processes, including disinfection and filtration, to provide clean and safe water for the residents.
Also, there is regular testing to make sure tap water in Massachusetts meets (or does better than) the EPA (the Environmental Protection Agency) water quality standards. Besides, authorities have been doing their best to solve the issues with infrastructure and improve water quality.
However, despite all these constant efforts, there are still some challenges that don’t allow us to enjoy the pure and healthy water we all deserve. One of the main reasons is the old pipes, which is a common problem in older urban areas, like Massachusetts. But that’s not all.
5 Most Common Tap Water Contaminants in Massachusetts and Their Health Risks
To protect ourselves, it’s important to increase our knowledge about tap water contaminants in Massachusetts, and their potential health risks, and take a few steps to improve the quality of the water we consume.
Lead in Massachusetts Tap Water
According to the data gathered in 2022 by the MWRA, lead levels in some areas, like Boston, are between 0.07 to 120 parts per billion (ppb), which is far more than the EPA standard levels (15 ppb).
While the objective is to reduce the amount of lead to zero, it’s not easy to achieve this goal in older urban areas.
Lead enters tap water usually through corrosion of old lead plumbing materials, including pipes, faucets, and fixtures. This is a typical water contaminant in places that were constructed around 150 years ago or older.
Unfortunately, lead is toxic and can cause serious health issues, especially in young children. Here are some health issues caused by exposure to lead through drinking water.
- Drinking water with high lead levels in children can cause developmental delays, neurological damage, reduced intelligence, attention disorders, blood disorders, and behavioral problems.
- In adults, it can lead to a decline in cognitive abilities and memory.
- High levels of lead in drinking water can also increase blood pressure and lead to hypertension. This, in turn, raises the risk of stroke and heart disease.
- Over time, lead in drinking water can damage kidneys as well.
So, particularly families with young kids should make sure their drinking water is lead-free and safe.
PFAS in Massachusetts Water in 2024
One of the most worrying tap water contaminants in Massachusetts is PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
These chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS, have different industrial applications and are used in some consumer products, such as firefighting foams, waterproof clothing, food packaging, etc.
These harmful chemical substances usually find their way into water supplies through firefighting activities, leaching from landfills, and industrial discharge.
For example, PFAS pollution is more likely to be found in areas near military bases as firefighting foam is extensively used in military facilities to put out fires after training exercises.
According to recent data gathered in May 2024, numerous public and private water systems in the east of the country, including Massachusetts, are contaminated by high levels of PFAS (See the PFAS contamination map here for more details).
Exposure to PFAS chemicals can cause serious health issues, including
- – cancer,
- – hormonal disruption,
- – and problems with the immune system.
That’s why, in regions with PFAS pollution, installing residential water filtration systems is very common.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
TTHMs and HAA5 are commonly found in many water systems because they’re byproducts of chlorine and other disinfectants.
During disinfection processes, chlorine (or similar substances) is added to treat drinking water. However, it reacts with some organic and inorganic matter present in the water which results in forming harmful byproducts like TTHMs and HAA5.
These two contaminants are not just found in Massachusetts water systems but they’ve been reported here as well. Sadly, in some areas of the state, they’re found above health guidelines and even above legal limits (See EWG reports for Massachusetts water contaminants here.).
Chlorine byproducts are very harmful and are linked to the following health risks.
- – Cancer (especially ladder, colon, and rectal cancers),
- – Liver and kidney damage,
- – Harmful effects on the nervous system and reproductive system,
- – Developmental issues in infants and fetuses (such as birth defects and lower birth weight),
- – TTHMs volatile can be found in the air while showering and inhaling it can worsen asthma and cause other respiratory issues.
Fortunately, activated carbon and reverse osmosis water filtering systems can remove HAA5 and TTHMs.
Arsenic
Although it’s a less common contaminant in Massachusetts, compared to lead, PFAS, and chlorine byproducts, still higher levels of arsenic can be found in some areas across the state (but not in Boston according to the 2022 water quality report by the MWRA).
Arsenic can enter our water supplies in different ways, including
- – the erosion of earth materials,
- – from mining,
- – from burning coal,
- – and the use of some pesticides that contain arsenic.
Arsenic is also toxic and considered a risk factor for several serious health issues, such as cancer (especially skin, lung, and bladder cancers), skin lesions, hypertension, heart disease, and cognitive impairment.
Even showering with water that contains very high levels of arsenic can lead to different skin conditions, like hyperkeratosis.
So, if the water has a metallic taste/odor, or your skin is irritated after washing, there’s a high chance that your water supplies contain too much arsenic. It’s recommended to get the water tested.
Copper
Copper is also not above health guideline limits in Massachusetts water systems, but it’s still found in our water, usually coming from copper pipes and fixtures.
This contaminant can cause damage to the kidney and liver as well as gastrointestinal issues over time.
Overall, there are various contaminants in city water across Massachusetts. Except for the common tap water pollutants mentioned above, uranium, radium, nitrate, and some other contaminants are found at high levels in different regions in our state.
So, finding a reliable solution to remove these harmful substances before they enter our bodies and affect our health is a necessity.
Ways to Deal with Tap Water Contaminants in Massachusetts
Now, if you’re concerned about the health effects of tap water contaminants, here are a few simple and effective ways to deal with this problem.
Short-Term and Temporary Solutions
If you’re in a place with poor water quality for a short time, or for any other reasons you’re looking for a quick and temporary solution, you can use bottled water or boil the water.
However, buying bottled water for an extended period of time isn’t a good idea. It’s costly and not environmentally friendly.
Also, boiling the water can remove microbial contaminants (like bacteria and viruses) and reduce the levels of some chemicals, but it can’t eliminate lead, arsenic, copper (and other heavy metals), and chemicals like PFAS, TTHMs, and HAA5.
Plumbing Upgrade and Maintenance
If the problem with the water is mainly the contaminants from your building’s pipes, faucets, and fixtures, you can replace them to solve the problem. For example, if lead enters the water from your building’s plumbing, you can hire a professional to replace the lead pipes.
In addition, regular maintenance of faucets and pipes can reduce the concentration of contaminants, like debris, copper, lead, etc. For example, flushing the pipes and cleaning faucet aerators.
Installing Water Filtration Systems
The most reliable solution to constantly have access to pure water at home or the workplace is installing a suitable water filtration system.
Based on what contaminants must be eliminated, a professional recommends a type of water treatment equipment. For example, water softeners are great choices in areas with hard water problems.
Some filtration systems contain various filters to remove a wider range of contaminants, like reverse osmosis (RO) systems. As tap water contaminants in Massachusetts are varied in type, RO filtration is usually a suitable choice.
Call Project Clean Water now to consult with one of our experts or to schedule a home visit.
FAQs About Health Effects of Tap Water Contaminants in Massachusetts
Here, our experts are answering some of your most common questions about poor-quality water.
What Water Filtration Can Remove Microbial Contaminants?
Microbial contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites, can be effectively removed by UV purifiers and reverse osmosis (RO) filtration systems.
Is the Quality of Tap Water in Massachusetts the Worst in the US?
No. In Massachusetts, advanced water treatment processes are used to provide safe water for the residents. Although the water quality isn’t as good as in places like Denver and Oregon, it’s not the worst in the country.
However, some contaminants aren’t easy to eliminate, like TTHMs and HAA5, which are byproducts of disinfectants added during water treatment, or heavy metals, like lead, that enter the water from old pipes.
Should I Worry About PFAS in Our Drinking Water in Massachusetts?
Yes. Water in most areas in Massachusetts contains high levels of PFAS, which has been associated with various serious health issues, like cancer, hormonal problems, harmful effects on reproductive health, developmental issues in infants and fetuses, and damaging the immune system.
Is It Bad for My Hair to Shower with Hard Water?
Yes. Hard water (water that contains too much of heavy metals, like lead) can make your hair dry and weak. Also, some metals can change the color of your hair over time (Read more about The Effects of Water Quality on Hair here). Using showerhead filters and water softeners is recommended in areas with hard water.
How Effective Are Residential Water Filtration Systems at Removing Tap Water Contaminants in Massachusetts?
A suitable and high-quality water filtration system can remove up to 98% of the contaminants. So, they’re very effective.
We Provide the Best and Most Affordable Water Treatment Equipment in Massachusetts
In this article, we tried to provide an objective and up-to-date review of tap water contaminants in Massachusetts to help you make a good decision about improving the water quality at your home or workplace.
However, if you want to know the exact amount of each contaminant in the water in your place, you should have it tested.
Also, you can contact Project Clean Water at 339-675-2027 wherever you are in Massachusetts to schedule a home visit. Our experts will come to you and examine the quality of the water and recommend the best water treatment for you. We offer top-quality water filtration systems for both residential and commercial settings. Never settle for low-quality water!
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