Is Yarmouth, 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 Yarmouth Water Department. 5 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Yarmouth Water Department supplies Yarmouth (38,900 people).
Water system
Yarmouth Water Department
38,900 people · Groundwater · EPA ID MA4351000
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Detected, below limit | 3.1 ppt | 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: 1.5 ppb at the 90th percentile (Jun 2025, 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.
Yarmouth 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 Yarmouth town (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town 7 mi Centerville Osterville Marstons Mills Water District | Above limit | 1.82 ppb |
| Falmouth 20 mi Falmouth Water Dept | None above limits | 1.1 ppb |
| Plymouth 25 mi Plymouth Water Department | None above limits | 2.5 ppb |
| Middleborough 36 mi Middleborough Water Supply | Above limit | 3 ppb |
| New Bedford 37 mi City of New Bedford Dept. of Public Infrastructure | None above limits | 4.1 ppb |
| Dartmouth 38 mi Dartmouth Water Division | Above limit | 7 ppb |
Yarmouth ZIP codes (3)
- 02664
- 02673
- 02675
Questions
Is Yarmouth tap water safe to drink?
Yarmouth Water Department 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 Yarmouth, MA?
Yarmouth Water Department, which serves 38,900 people.
Does Yarmouth tap water have PFAS?
Yarmouth Water Department had 5 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Yarmouth homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 68% of Yarmouth 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. Yarmouth Water Department'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.