01469
Townsend, MA
Middlesex County · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area
TOWNSEND WATER DEPARTMENT

Is Townsend tap water safe to drink?

Higher concern
Last tested: October 2025
Source: Official EPA UCMR5 federal monitoring data. Last tested October 2025.
Neighborhood:
  • Townsend

The short answer for Townsend

Townsend tap water has 3 contaminants above EPA guidelines, including PFOA at 1.6× the limit (tested March 2024). See the full compound-by-compound breakdown and filter recommendations.

The health risk for Townsend

PFAS ('forever chemicals') have been detected above EPA limits in this water system's most recent tests. These synthetic chemicals do not break down in the body and are linked to a range of health effects. A certified filter is strongly recommended.
  • PFOA, PFPeA above limit.
PFOA concentration (µg/L) March 2024
0 µg/L 0.004 µg/L 0.01 µg/L
0.006 µg/L
Detected
µg/L
0.004 µg/L
EPA limit
guideline
62% above limit
Comparison
vs. guideline
EPA limit: 0.004 µg/L | Your water: 0.006 µg/L
Certified Filters for Townsend Tap Water

PFOA (a PFAS 'forever chemical') was detected above EPA limits. These filters are independently certified to reduce common drinking-water contaminants.

Water filter recommendation for Townsend tap water: Epic Pure XP Water Filter Pitcher
Pitcher filter
Epic Pure XP Water Filter Pitcher
NSF-certified dual-layer filtration reduces 70+ contaminants including PFAS, lead, chlorine, microplastics, and bacteria.
NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 & P473Removes 99.99% PFASMade in USABPA-free
Best for renters or quick setup. No installation needed.
Get the Epic Pure XP →
Most elevated compounds
Compound Measurement EPA Limit Comparison
PFOA
Tested: March 2024 · WITCHES BROOK WELL 2		 0.006 µg/L 0.004 µg/L 62% above limit
PFPeA
Tested: March 2024 · WITCHES BROOK WELL 2		 0.004 µg/L 0.003 µg/L 17% above limit
PFOA
Tested: October 2024 · WITCHES BROOK WELL 1		 0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L 10% above limit
4:2 FTS
Tested: October 2024 · CROSS STREET WELL		 0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L 100% of limit
View all tested compounds

WITCHES BROOK WELL 2 · Tested: March 2024

Compound Measurement EPA Limit Comparison
PFOA 0.006 µg/L 0.004 µg/L 62% above limit
PFPeA 0.004 µg/L 0.003 µg/L 17% above limit
PFHxA 0.004 µg/L 3 µg/L 0.1% of limit
lithium <9.000 µg/L 10 µg/L Below limit
PFHxS <0.003 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
HFPO-DA <0.005 µg/L 0.01 µg/L Below limit
PFNA <0.004 µg/L 0.01 µg/L Below limit
PFBA <0.005 µg/L 6 µg/L Below limit
11Cl-PF3OUdS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
4:2 FTS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
6:2 FTS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
8:2 FTS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
9Cl-PF3ONS <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Below limit
ADONA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFBS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFDA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFDoA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFHpA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFHpS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFOS <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
PFTrDA <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Below limit
PFUnA <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Below limit

WITCHES BROOK WELL 1 · Tested: October 2024

Compound Measurement EPA Limit Comparison
PFOA 0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L 10% above limit
PFHxA 0.004 µg/L 3 µg/L 0.1% of limit
lithium <9.000 µg/L 10 µg/L Below limit
PFHxS <0.003 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
HFPO-DA <0.005 µg/L 0.01 µg/L Below limit
PFNA <0.004 µg/L 0.01 µg/L Below limit
PFBA <0.005 µg/L 6 µg/L Below limit
11Cl-PF3OUdS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
4:2 FTS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
6:2 FTS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
8:2 FTS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
9Cl-PF3ONS <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Below limit
ADONA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFBS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFDA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFDoA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFHpA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFHpS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFOS <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
PFPeA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFTrDA <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Below limit
PFUnA <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Below limit

CROSS STREET WELL · Tested: October 2024

Compound Measurement EPA Limit Comparison
4:2 FTS 0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L 100% of limit
lithium <9.000 µg/L 10 µg/L Below limit
PFHxS <0.003 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
HFPO-DA <0.005 µg/L 0.01 µg/L Below limit
PFNA <0.004 µg/L 0.01 µg/L Below limit
PFHxA <0.003 µg/L 3 µg/L Below limit
PFBA <0.005 µg/L 6 µg/L Below limit
11Cl-PF3OUdS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
4:2 FTS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
6:2 FTS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
8:2 FTS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
9Cl-PF3ONS <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Below limit
ADONA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFBS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFDA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFDoA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFHpA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFHpS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFOA <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
PFOS <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
PFPeA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFTrDA <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Below limit
PFUnA <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Below limit

Harbor Trace Treatment Plant · Tested: October 2025

Compound Measurement EPA Limit Comparison
lithium <9.000 µg/L 10 µg/L Below limit
PFHxS <0.003 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
HFPO-DA <0.005 µg/L 0.01 µg/L Below limit
PFNA <0.004 µg/L 0.01 µg/L Below limit
PFHxA <0.003 µg/L 3 µg/L Below limit
PFBA <0.005 µg/L 6 µg/L Below limit
11Cl-PF3OUdS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
4:2 FTS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
6:2 FTS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
8:2 FTS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
9Cl-PF3ONS <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Below limit
ADONA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFBS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFDA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFDoA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFHpA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFHpS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFOA <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
PFOS <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
PFPeA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFTrDA <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Below limit
PFUnA <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Below limit

Main St Well · Tested: October 2024

Compound Measurement EPA Limit Comparison
lithium <9.000 µg/L 10 µg/L Below limit
PFHxS <0.003 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
HFPO-DA <0.005 µg/L 0.01 µg/L Below limit
PFNA <0.004 µg/L 0.01 µg/L Below limit
PFHxA <0.003 µg/L 3 µg/L Below limit
PFBA <0.005 µg/L 6 µg/L Below limit
11Cl-PF3OUdS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
4:2 FTS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
6:2 FTS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
8:2 FTS <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Below limit
9Cl-PF3ONS <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Below limit
ADONA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFBS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFDA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFDoA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFHpA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFHpS <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFOA <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
PFOS <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Below limit
PFPeA <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Below limit
PFTrDA <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Below limit
PFUnA <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Below limit

Water utilities serving ZIP 01469

Service area boundaries are approximate and based on state filings or modeled estimates. Contact your utility to confirm exact service at a specific address.

Modeled boundaries are shown with a dashed outline. Outlines appear when service-area boundary data is available for this ZIP.

Frequently Asked Questions about ZIP 01469 Tap Water

What contaminants are above EPA limits in ZIP 01469?

ZIP 01469 has 3 contaminants above EPA health guidelines in the latest available data, including PFOA at 1.6x the EPA guideline. The full table on this page lists every tested compound and its measured level.

Will boiling ZIP 01469 tap water remove PFOA?

No. Boiling does not remove PFAS, and the compounds can actually become more concentrated as water evaporates. To reduce PFAS at home, use a filter independently certified to NSF/ANSI P473 (activated-carbon pitcher or under-sink) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis).

Do basic pitcher filters remove PFOA?

Most basic pitcher filters are only certified to NSF/ANSI 42 or 53, which do not cover PFAS. Look for a filter independently certified to NSF/ANSI P473 (activated-carbon pitcher or under-sink) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis) on the spec sheet.

Who provides tap water in ZIP 01469?

Public records identify TOWNSEND WATER DEPARTMENT as a primary water system associated with ZIP 01469. Service boundaries can vary by address, so confirm exact service with the utility.

When was ZIP 01469 tap water last tested?

The most recent test date used in this report is October 2025. EnviroClarity last refreshed this page on 2026-05-05.

Where can I find the official water quality report for ZIP 01469?

Every U.S. public water system is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Contact TOWNSEND WATER DEPARTMENT or visit their website for the latest official report covering ZIP 01469. The EPA also maintains a national CCR locator.

Primary source EPA UCMR5 (2023-2025)
Guideline source EPA PFAS drinking water standard (PFOA: 0,004 µg/L, effective 2024, compliance by 2031)
Last tested October 2025
Last page update 2026-05-05

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    Data reflects publicly reported utility records from EPA datasets and local utility disclosures. This information is educational and not medical advice.

    Protect your water in Townsend → see certified filters