WaterQ

Massachusetts Tap Water Quality Rankings 2026: 37th in Nation | WaterQ

Alex Carter
By Alex Carter
Water Quality Researcher ยท Published 2026-06-23

Massachusetts ranks 37th out of the 50 US states, receiving an average water quality score of 73 and a grade of C. Serving a population of 10,038,392, the state's 321 water systems face challenges related to aging infrastructure. Over the tracking period, these systems accumulated a total of 11,774 violations.

Key Findings for Massachusetts

Reviewing EPA SDWIS data for 2026, here's what defines Massachusetts's water quality landscape:

  • Densely populated Northeast regions with older urban infrastructure face elevated risks of lead contamination leaching from aging service lines and plumbing.
  • As a coastal state, local water systems must manage coastal environmental influences alongside runoff from urban and industrial areas.
  • With 11,774 violations across 321 systems, many public water supplies struggle with regulatory compliance and infrastructure maintenance.

Most Common Contaminants in Massachusetts

Here's what Massachusetts residents should know about the contaminants most relevant to their water:

Lead

Older urban distribution systems and household plumbing can leach lead into drinking water, particularly in regions with historic housing stock.

Disinfection Byproducts

These chemical compounds can form during the water treatment process when chlorine disinfectants react with naturally occurring organic matter.

PFAS

Densely populated industrial areas often face groundwater and surface water contamination from persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Massachusetts's Best and Worst Cities for Water Quality

Residents can search the detailed state database to view local compliance reports and violation histories for water systems in their specific cities and towns. Explore the full breakdown on our Massachusetts water systems page.

What Massachusetts Residents Should Do

Given Massachusetts's 37th place ranking, here's what matters most for residents:

  1. Look up your public water system's specific EPA compliance and violation history.
  2. Test your household tap water for lead if you reside in a building constructed before modern plumbing regulations.
  3. Perform annual testing on private wells, which are not regulated or monitored by public utilities.
  4. Select a water filtration system certified to reduce the specific contaminants identified in your local water report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Massachusetts water quality compare to other states?

Massachusetts ranks 37th out of 50 states, placing it in the lower-middle tier nationally. It receives a C grade with an average score of 73, driven by a high number of system violations.

What are the most common contaminants in Massachusetts tap water?

The most common concerns are lead from aging plumbing and service lines, disinfection byproducts from public treatment processes, and industrial contaminants like PFAS in urban and industrial areas.

Is it safe to drink tap water in Massachusetts?

With a C grade and over 11,000 violations, tap water safety is not uniform across the state. While many systems deliver compliant water, residents should check their local system's records and consider testing or filtration if they suspect infrastructure issues.

Source: EPA SDWIS 2026 Compliance Data and WaterQ National Database. For more information on our ranking process, visit our state rankings page.