Is Andover, MA tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Andover Water Dept. 1 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Andover Water Dept supplies Andover (36,569 people).
Water system
Andover Water Dept
36,569 people · Surface water · EPA ID MA3009000
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 2
Across Massachusetts, 75 of 261 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 8 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Massachusetts results.
Andover homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Andover town (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence 4 mi Lawrence Water Works | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| North Andover 4 mi North Andover Water Dept | None above limits | 1.2 ppb |
| Tewksbury 4 mi Tewksbury Water Department | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Dracut 7 mi Dracut Water Supply District | Above limit | 0 ppb |
| Billerica 8 mi Billerica Water Works | None above limits | 2.4 ppb |
| Lowell 8 mi Lowell Regional Water Utility | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Andover ZIP codes (1)
- 01810
Questions
Is Andover tap water safe to drink?
Andover Water Dept had 2 health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Andover, MA?
Andover Water Dept, which serves 36,569 people.
Does Andover tap water have PFAS?
Andover Water Dept had 1 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Andover homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 60% of Andover homes as built before 1980 (Massachusetts: 67%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Andover Water Dept's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.