Is Walpole, 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 Walpole Water Dept. 6 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Walpole Water Dept supplies Walpole (24,070 people).
Water system
Walpole Water Dept
24,070 people · Groundwater · EPA ID MA4307000
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Detected, below limit | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Detected, below limit | 4 ppt | 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: 1.8 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2024, 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.
Walpole homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Walpole town (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Canton 7 mi Canton Water Dept | Above limit | 1.4 ppb |
| Stoughton 8 mi Stoughton Water Department | Above limit | 2 ppb |
| Franklin Town 9 mi Franklin Water Department | Above limit | 2 ppb |
| Easton 11 mi Easton Water Division | Above limit | 1.9 ppb |
| Randolph Town 11 mi Randolph/Holbrook Joint Water Board | Not tested | – |
| Natick 11 mi Natick Water and Sewer Division | Above limit | 0 ppb |
Walpole ZIP codes (3)
- 02032
- 02071
- 02081
Questions
Is Walpole tap water safe to drink?
Walpole Water Dept 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 Walpole, MA?
Walpole Water Dept, which serves 24,070 people.
Does Walpole tap water have PFAS?
Walpole Water Dept had 6 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Walpole homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 53% of Walpole 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. Walpole 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.