Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits in the Northeast and draws its water primarily from Quabbin Reservoir, rivers, and groundwater. With roughly 7 million residents, the state has minimal formal water reuse to date, reusing an estimated 4% of its treated wastewater.
Massachusettswater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Massachusetts
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 47 |
| TTHM | 26 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 16 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 11 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | 10 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | 10 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
The Quabbin system gives Boston a robust supply, while smaller systems wrestle with PFAS and lead pipes.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Massachusetts currently tracks around moderate to severe conditions. Massachusetts has 559 community water systems serving about 10 million people; EPA records show 125 of them (22.4%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Massachusetts in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 105 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 1.4 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 41.3%
- Irrigation share
- 9.8%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~4%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Quabbin Reservoir
- ≈ rivers
- ≈ groundwater
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has 559 community water systems serving about 10 million people. EPA records show 125 of them (22.4%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 15 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Massachusetts's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve Revised Total Coliform Rule, TTHM, Lead and Copper Rule.
How much water does Massachusetts use per person?
Public water systems in Massachusetts withdraw about 105 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 41.3% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Massachusetts?
As of 2026-06-09, 75.9% of Massachusetts is in drought (D1+) and 37.3% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Massachusetts
28 trackedBoston
Boston, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
South Boston
South Boston, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Worcester
Worcester, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Springfield
Springfield, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Lowell
Lowell, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Cambridge
Cambridge, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Brockton
Brockton, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
New Bedford
New Bedford, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Quincy
Quincy, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Lynn
Lynn, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Newton
Newton, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Fall River
Fall River, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Massachusetts
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExplorePFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
Explore