Nitrate in Massachusetts Drinking Water
Massachusetts has 3,929 public water systems. 2412 have recorded nitrate violations.
Total Systems
3,929
With Violations
2,412
EPA MCL
10
Population Served
10.4M
Nitrate in Massachusetts: Key Facts
Total Water Systems
3,929
Systems with Violations
2,412
Lead Violations
46
Copper Violations
249
EPA Standard
10 mg/L as N
MCLG (goal): 10 mg/L
Water Systems with Violations in Massachusetts
| System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| NEW ENGLAND LABORERS TRAINING ACADEMY | 200 | 965 |
| METROWEST YMCA | 700 | 744 |
| COOL SANDY BEACH COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM | 70 | 642 |
| BROOMFIELD LABORATORIES | 25 | 641 |
| PARAGON COMMUNICATIONS | 210 | 582 |
| BOXBOROUGH EXECUTIVE OFFICE CENTER | 60 | 549 |
| PLEASANT VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB | 460 | 541 |
| CENTRE VILLAGE APARTMENTS | 36 | 531 |
Health Effects of Nitrate Exposure
Blue baby syndrome
Infants under 6 months can develop methemoglobinemia
Thyroid effects
May disrupt thyroid function with chronic exposure
Cancer links
Potential associations with colorectal cancer at high levels
Infants below 6 months can develop methemoglobinemia ('blue baby syndrome'). May also affect adults with certain conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there nitrate in Massachusetts water?
Massachusetts has 3,929 public water systems. 2412 have recorded nitrate violations based on EPA SDWIS data. If you are on a private well, your water is not covered by these regulations and should be tested independently.
How can I check my Massachusetts water for nitrate?
Search for your water system using the WaterCheck system lookup, or contact your utility and request a copy of your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The CCR is published annually and lists all detected contaminants, their levels, and the EPA MCLs. For private wells, contact a state-certified lab for independent testing.
What is the EPA limit for nitrate?
The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for nitrate is 10 mg/L as N. Systems that exceed MCLs are required to notify customers and take corrective action.
Nitrate at a Glance
Source
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks and sewage; erosion of natural deposits
How to Filter Nitrate
- +Reverse osmosis or distillation removes nitrates
- +Boiling does NOT remove nitrates - it concentrates them
- +Do not give well water to infants under 6 months without testing