Is Gloucester, 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 Gloucester Public Utility Division.
Gloucester Public Utility Division supplies Gloucester (37,440 people).
Water system
Gloucester Public Utility Division
37,440 people · Surface water · EPA ID MA3107000
| 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: 3 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2023, 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.
Gloucester 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 Gloucester city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Beverly 9 mi Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board | Not tested | 1.7 ppb |
| Salem 14 mi Salem Water Department | None above limits | – |
| Peabody 16 mi Peabody Water Dept. | Above limit | 4.18 ppb |
| Lynn 18 mi Lynn Water and Sewer Commission | None above limits | 2.4 ppb |
| North Andover 21 mi North Andover Water Dept | None above limits | 1.2 ppb |
| Revere 21 mi Revere Water Division (MWRA) | None above limits | 8.05 ppb |
Gloucester ZIP codes (1)
- 01930
Questions
Is Gloucester tap water safe to drink?
Gloucester Public Utility Division 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 Gloucester, MA?
Gloucester Public Utility Division, which serves 37,440 people.
Does Gloucester tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Gloucester Public Utility Division 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 Gloucester homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 76% of Gloucester 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. Gloucester Public Utility Division'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.