B71/100
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) — Water Quality Report 2026
Serving 675,647 people · Massachusetts
Water Source
Purchased Surface Water
County
—
System ID
MA3035000
Violations
5
Contaminant Test Results
1 contaminant above EPA health goals
| Contaminant | Detected | Limit (MCL) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Lead (90th percentile) | 0.022 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L | Over Limit |
EPA Violation History
No violations in the past 5 years
Full EPA compliance since 2020.
Understanding violation severity
Tier 1Urgent health risk. Utility must notify all customers within 24 hours.Tier 2Important health or treatment issue. Customers notified within 30 days.Tier 3Administrative or monitoring issue. Reported in the annual water quality report.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · Updated quarterly
Frequently Asked Questions About BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA)
Is BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) water safe to drink?
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) water receives a grade of B (71/100), which is considered good. Out of 76 contaminants tested, 1 exceed EPA legal limits. 1 contaminant(s) exceed non-enforceable health goals. The water meets federal safety standards.
What contaminants has BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) detected?
76 contaminants were tested in BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA)'s water. Notable contaminants include Lead (90th percentile). 1 exceed EPA legal limits (MCLs). 1 exceed EPA health goals (MCLGs).
Does BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) have any EPA violations?
Yes, BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) has 5 EPA violation(s) on record, with the most recent in 2020. Violation types include TT, MCL, Other. 4 are health-based violations.
How many people does BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) serve?
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) serves approximately 675,647 people, Massachusetts. The system provides water to 1 community: Boston.
What type of water does BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) provide?
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) sources its water from purchased surface water. Surface water comes from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs and typically requires more extensive treatment. The utility's system ID is MA3035000.
How does BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) compare to other utilities in Massachusetts?
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) scores 71/100 with a grade of B (good). This is an above-average performance for utilities statewide. Visit our Massachusetts state page for a full comparison of water systems.