Is Holyoke, 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 Holyoke Water Works.
Holyoke Water Works supplies Holyoke (37,838 people).
Water system
Holyoke Water Works
37,838 people · Surface water · EPA ID MA1137000
| 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: 9 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.
Holyoke 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 Holyoke city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Chicopee 4 mi Chicopee Water Dept (MWRA) | None above limits | 1.5 ppb |
| West Springfield Town 6 mi West Springfield Dept. of Public Works Water Division | None above limits | 1.6 ppb |
| Westfield 8 mi Westfield Dpwwater Division | None above limits | 2.7 ppb |
| Northampton 8 mi Northampton Water Division | None above limits | 2.6 ppb |
| Springfield 8 mi Springfield Water and Sewer Commission | None above limits | 3.5 ppb |
| Agawam Town 10 mi Agawam Water Department | None above limits | 1.5 ppb |
Holyoke ZIP codes (1)
- 01040
Questions
Is Holyoke tap water safe to drink?
Holyoke Water Works 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 Holyoke, MA?
Holyoke Water Works, which serves 37,838 people.
Does Holyoke tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Holyoke Water Works 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 Holyoke homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 84% of Holyoke 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. Holyoke 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.