Waterborne illness information for the public

Learn how to report a possible case of waterborne illness, learn more about waterborne illness, find information on boil water advisories and public beach closings, and find fact sheets on waterborne diseases and contaminants.

Reporting waterborne illness

• If you believe you became ill after ingesting treated water intended for drinking, including a public water system, private well, or bottled water, please contact:
  • Your local board of health
  • DPH Division of Epidemiology [phone]
  • For private wells: Your local board of health
  • For bottled water: DPH Division of Food Protection [phone]
  • For public water systems: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Drinking Water Program: [phone] or [e-mail].
• If you became ill after swimming in or swallowing recreational water (e.g., swimming pool, splash pad, lake, ocean), please contact:
  • The local board of health where the recreational water body or venue is located
  • DPH Division of Epidemiology [phone]

Disease-specific fact sheets

You can view fact sheets about diseases that can be spread by swallowing contaminated water or being exposed to contaminated recreational water.

• Cryptosporidiosis
• Giardia
• Noroviruses
• Shiga Toxin Producing Escherichia coli
• Shigella
• Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Drinking water

• Learn about your drinking water
  • What's in my drinking water?
  • Drinking Water Contaminants Information for the Public
• Drinking water boil orders and public health orders
• Drinking Water Health & Safety
• Drinking Water | CDC

Recreational water

• Learn about recreational water illness
  • Preventing Swimming-related Illnesses | Healthy Swimming | CDC
• Find information on beach water quality in Massachusetts
  • Beach Data Dashboard
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Monitoring Water Quality at Beaches
• Algae blooms in recreational water
• Recreational Water Quality
• Pet waste and bathing beaches
• Swimming pool sanitation: regulation, forms, advisories and more