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Drinking Water Contaminants Information for the Public

Information about contaminants in drinking water, written for a general audience.
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Table of Contents

1,4-Dioxane

FAQs: 1,4 Dioxane in Drinking Water 

Arsenic

FAQ: Arsenic in Private Well Water 
CDC: Arsenic and Drinking Water from Private Wells 
USGS Study of Arsenic and Uranium in Private Wells in Massachusetts 

Chloramines

US EPA: Chloramines in Drinking Water 
San Francisco Water Power Sewer: Chloramine 

Copper

Copper in Drinking Water and Your Health 
Copper in Drinking Water FAQ (PDF 67.01 KB)

Cryptosporidium and Giardia

FAQs: Cryptosporidium 
CDC: Cryptosporidium 
CDC: Giardia 

Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria - Harmful Algal Blooms & Water 

This MassDEP guide to cyanobacteria includes general information about: what they are, the potential health risks, and where to get more information. It also includes fact sheets and resources for Public Water Suppliers.

Fluoride

Massachusetts Communities Receiving Communities Water Fluoridation (PDF 172.13 KB)

Massachusetts Fluoridation Update 2014 (PDF 1.61 MB)
CDC: Community Water Fluoridation 

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)

FAQs: HAA5 in Drinking Water 

Lead

Is There Lead In My Tap Water and What Can I Do About It? 
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program 
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Lead Information 
Assistance Program for Lead in School Drinking Water 

Manganese

Manganese in Drinking Water: Typical Questions and Answers for Consumers (DOC 61 KB)

Mercury

MassDEP Mercury Information 

Perchlorate

Addressing Perchlorate and Other Emerging Contaminants in Massachusetts (DOC 83 KB)

PFAS (Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl substances including PFOS and PFOA)

MassDEP: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) 

What are PFAS, why are they a concern, and what MassDEP is doing about them.

Development of a PFAS Drinking Water Standard (MCL) 

Background materials for Conservation Law Foundation/Toxics Action Center petition to regulate PFAS, and MassDEP's response to the petition.

Commonwealth program to remove fire fighting foams containing PFAS 

MassDEP in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (MassDFS) has a take-back program to assist fire departments in the proper disposal of legacy firefighting foams that could impact water resources.

US EPA: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) 

Basic information about PFAS and what actions EPA is taking

Radionuclides

FAQs: Radionuclides, including Uranium in Drinking Water 
USGS: Arsenic and Uranium in Water from Private Wells Completed in Bedrock of East-Central Massachusetts 

Secondary Contaminants

US EPA - Secondary Drinking Water Regulations: Guidance for Nuisance Chemicals 

Sodium

Sodium in Public Drinking Water (DOC 50 KB)
DPH Fact Sheet: Sodium in Drinking Water (PDF 215.56 KB)

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)

FAQs: Total Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water 

Unregulated Contaminants

Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 4 Data (Massachusetts Only) (XLSX 2.22 MB)

Updated January, 28 2022.

Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 3 Data (Massachusetts Only) (XLSX 1.37 MB)

Contact

Phone

Program Director 617-292-5770

Online

MassDEP Drinking Water Program program.director-dwp@mass.gov

Address

MassDEP Boston
1 Winter Street
Boston, MA 02108
Directions 
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