Is Fitchburg, 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 Fitchburg Dept. of Public Works Division of Water Supply. 3 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Fitchburg Dept. of Public Works Division of Water Supply supplies Fitchburg (41,946 people).
Water system
Fitchburg Dept. of Public Works Division of Water Supply
41,946 people · Surface water · EPA ID MA2097000
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA One sample above limit | 1.22 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: 5 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, 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.
Fitchburg 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 Fitchburg city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Leominster 6 mi Leominster Water Division | None above limits | 2.8 ppb |
| Marlborough 22 mi Marlborough Dept. of Public Works Water Division (MWRA) | None above limits | 1.2 ppb |
| Shrewsbury 22 mi Shrewsbury Water Department | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Chelmsford 23 mi Chelmsford Water District | Above limit | 2.4 ppb |
| Worcester 23 mi Worcester DPW&P Water Supply Division | None above limits | 2 ppb |
| Lowell 25 mi Lowell Regional Water Utility | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Fitchburg ZIP codes (1)
- 01420
Questions
Is Fitchburg tap water safe to drink?
Fitchburg Dept. of Public Works Division of Water Supply 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 Fitchburg, MA?
Fitchburg Dept. of Public Works Division of Water Supply, which serves 41,946 people.
Does Fitchburg tap water have PFAS?
Fitchburg Dept. of Public Works Division of Water Supply had 3 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Fitchburg homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 79% of Fitchburg 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. Fitchburg Dept. of Public Works Division of Water Supply'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.