New Bedford
New Bedford, MA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
city of new bedford dpi
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID MA4201000
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
New Bedford, MA is a small but growing city, with a population near 94,958 and the 8th-largest community in Massachusetts. Like much of Massachusetts, New Bedford draws its water primarily from Quabbin Reservoir, rivers, and groundwater.
New Bedford's water outlook is shaped most by aging infrastructure — the issue that dominates planning across Massachusetts. The Quabbin system gives Boston a robust supply, while smaller systems wrestle with PFAS and lead pipes.
New Bedford sits in a state that reuses roughly 4% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences moderate to severe drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Massachusetts state water profile and the related issues below.
Bristol County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~94,958 (8th-largest in Massachusetts)
- Primary sources: Quabbin Reservoir, rivers, and groundwater
- Drought: moderate to severe conditions
- State reuse rate: ~4% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Massachusetts in severe+ drought (Severe (D2) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in New Bedford?
New Bedford's largest water system, CITY OF NEW BEDFORD DPI, serves about 101,079 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 4.1 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does New Bedford get its water?
CITY OF NEW BEDFORD DPI draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Massachusetts's supply from Quabbin Reservoir, rivers, groundwater.
Related water issues
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