Is Billerica, 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 Billerica Water Works. 5 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Billerica Water Works supplies Billerica (42,119 people).
Water system
Billerica Water Works
42,119 people · Surface water · EPA ID MA3031000
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA One sample above limit | 2.43 ppt | 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: 2.4 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: 3
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.
Billerica 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 Billerica town (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Tewksbury 4 mi Tewksbury Water Department | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Chelmsford 6 mi Chelmsford Water District | Above limit | 2.4 ppb |
| Lowell 6 mi Lowell Regional Water Utility | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Woburn 7 mi Woburn Water Dept. | Above limit | 1.28 ppb |
| Andover 8 mi Andover Water Dept | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Dracut 9 mi Dracut Water Supply District | Above limit | 0 ppb |
Billerica ZIP codes (2)
- 01821
- 01862
Questions
Is Billerica tap water safe to drink?
Billerica Water Works had 3 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 Billerica, MA?
Billerica Water Works, which serves 42,119 people.
Does Billerica tap water have PFAS?
Billerica Water Works had 5 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Billerica homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 62% of Billerica 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. Billerica Water Works'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.