Water Health Check Report
Boston, MA
Boston Water And Sewer Commission · Surface water source · Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) — Quabbin Reservoir (~60%) and Wachusett Reservoir (~40%), both protected central Massachusetts watersheds. Treated at the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant (ozone, UV, chloramine). Purchased and distributed by BWSC.
Fair — with 4 concerns
Boston Water And Sewer Commission meets all federal legal limits but 4 contaminants exceed EWG health guidelines. Lead levels within limits at treatment plant
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Lead—source matters
Lead in tap water comes from household plumbing, not the source water or treatment plant. Boston water leaves the treatment plant lead-free. Risk depends on your building's internal plumbing—highest in homes built before 1986, when lead solder was common. A NSF/ANSI 53 certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes lead at point of use.
Contaminants tested
11 total · 4 above EWG guideline| Contaminant | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) CAS Various | 21.6 ppb | Above guideline |
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) CAS Various | 13.8 ppb | Above guideline |
Arsenic CAS 7440-38-2 | 0.30 ppb | Above guideline |
Copper CAS 7440-50-8 | 0.52 ppm | Above guideline |
PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) CAS 335-67-1 | 0.90 ppt | Within limits |
PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) CAS 1763-23-1 | 0.60 ppt | Within limits |
Nitrate CAS 14797-55-8 | 0.14 ppm | Within limits |
Fluoride CAS 16984-48-8 | 0.70 ppm | Within limits |
Barium CAS 7440-39-3 | 0.03 ppm | Within limits |
Lead CAS 7439-92-1 | 7.4 ppb | Within limits |
Chlorine (residual) CAS 7782-50-5 | 1.1 ppm | Within limits |
Filter recommendation
4 contaminants above guidelines. Here's what removes them.
A guided 4-question flow matches you to the right filter for your setup, budget, and household.
Want to go further than filtration?
Your report shows 4 contaminants above health guidelines. A specialist at Drawn can give you an expert read on your specific profile — what to prioritise, which filters actually address it, and what optimisation looks like for your household.
What a consultation covers
- Your contaminant profile explained in plain English
- Filter recommendations matched to what's actually in your water
- Optimisation options for households ready for that conversation
20 min · Free · No obligation
Data sources
Status flags compare detected levels against both EPA legal limits and EWG health-based guidelines—which are stricter and science-derived, independent of political feasibility.