Is Everett, 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 Everett Water Dept. (MWRA).
Everett Water Dept. (MWRA) supplies Everett (49,075 people).
Water system
Everett Water Dept. (MWRA)
49,075 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID MA3093000
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: 5.67 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.
Everett 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 Everett city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Chelsea 1 mi Chelsea Water Dept. (MWRA) | None above limits | 2.41 ppb |
| Malden 2 mi Malden Water Division (MWRA) | None above limits | 9.74 ppb |
| Somerville 3 mi Somerville Water Dept. (MWRA) | None above limits | 3.92 ppb |
| Medford 3 mi Medford Water Dept. (MWRA) | None above limits | 8.35 ppb |
| Revere 3 mi Revere Water Division (MWRA) | None above limits | 8.05 ppb |
| Melrose 3 mi Melrose Water Division (MWRA) | None above limits | 10.2 ppb |
Everett ZIP codes (1)
- 02149
Questions
Is Everett tap water safe to drink?
Everett 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 Everett, MA?
Everett Water Dept. (MWRA), which serves 49,075 people.
Does Everett tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Everett 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 Everett homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 77% of Everett 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. Everett 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.