Is Pittsfield, 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 Pittsfield DPU Water Dept.
Pittsfield DPU Water Dept supplies Pittsfield (43,927 people).
Water system
Pittsfield DPU Water Dept
43,927 people · Surface water · EPA ID MA1236000
| 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: 1.7 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: 1
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.
Pittsfield 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 Pittsfield city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Northampton 31 mi Northampton Water Division | None above limits | 2.6 ppb |
| Westfield 34 mi Westfield Dpwwater Division | None above limits | 2.7 ppb |
| Holyoke 36 mi Holyoke Water Works | None above limits | 9 ppb |
| West Springfield Town 38 mi West Springfield Dept. of Public Works Water Division | None above limits | 1.6 ppb |
| Amherst Town 39 mi Amherst Dept. of Public Works Water Division | None above limits | 8 ppb |
| Chicopee 40 mi Chicopee Water Dept (MWRA) | None above limits | 1.5 ppb |
Pittsfield ZIP codes (1)
- 01201
Questions
Is Pittsfield tap water safe to drink?
Pittsfield DPU Water Dept had 1 health-based violation 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 Pittsfield, MA?
Pittsfield DPU Water Dept, which serves 43,927 people.
Does Pittsfield tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Pittsfield DPU Water Dept 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 Pittsfield homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 85% of Pittsfield 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. Pittsfield DPU Water Dept'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.