Is Marlborough, 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 Marlborough Dept. of Public Works Water Division (MWRA).
Marlborough Dept. of Public Works Water Division (MWRA) supplies Marlborough (41,799 people).
Water system
Marlborough Dept. of Public Works Water Division (MWRA)
41,799 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID MA2170000
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: 1.2 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.
Marlborough 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 Marlborough city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Framingham 6 mi Framingham Water Dept. (MWRA) | None above limits | 1.6 ppb |
| Shrewsbury 10 mi Shrewsbury Water Department | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Natick 11 mi Natick Water and Sewer Division | Above limit | 0 ppb |
| Worcester 14 mi Worcester DPW&P Water Supply Division | None above limits | 2 ppb |
| Waltham 16 mi Waltham Water Department | None above limits | 1.92 ppb |
| Leominster 16 mi Leominster Water Division | None above limits | 2.8 ppb |
Marlborough ZIP codes (1)
- 01752
Questions
Is Marlborough tap water safe to drink?
Marlborough Dept. of Public Works Water Division (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 Marlborough, MA?
Marlborough Dept. of Public Works Water Division (MWRA), which serves 41,799 people.
Does Marlborough tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Marlborough Dept. of Public Works Water Division (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 Marlborough homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 56% of Marlborough 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. Marlborough Dept. of Public Works Water Division (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.