Is Chelsea, 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 Chelsea Water Dept. (MWRA).
Chelsea Water Dept. (MWRA) supplies Chelsea (40,787 people).
Water system
Chelsea Water Dept. (MWRA)
40,787 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID MA3057000
Buys treated water from Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA).
| 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: 2.41 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: 0
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.
Chelsea homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Chelsea city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Everett 1 mi Everett Water Dept. (MWRA) | None above limits | 5.67 ppb |
| Malden 3 mi Malden Water Division (MWRA) | None above limits | 9.74 ppb |
| Revere 3 mi Revere Water Division (MWRA) | None above limits | 8.05 ppb |
| Somerville 4 mi Somerville Water Dept. (MWRA) | None above limits | 3.92 ppb |
| Boston 4 mi Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) | Not tested | 5.9 ppb |
| Melrose 4 mi Melrose Water Division (MWRA) | None above limits | 10.2 ppb |
Chelsea ZIP codes (1)
- 02150
Questions
Is Chelsea tap water safe to drink?
Chelsea Water Dept. (MWRA) has had no 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 Chelsea, MA?
Chelsea Water Dept. (MWRA), which serves 40,787 people.
Does Chelsea tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Chelsea Water Dept. (MWRA) had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Chelsea homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 69% of Chelsea 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. Chelsea Water Dept. (MWRA)'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.