What was found in Burlington's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 1600 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 910 µg/L 9.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 450 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 96.5 µg/L 121% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 67 µg/L 112% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 62 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 57 µg/L 1140% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 53 µg/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 33 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 30 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 29 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 29 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 16 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 7.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 7.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 6.2 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 4.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 4 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 3.9 µg/L 78% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.7 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | 2.9 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 1.7 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0110 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0085 mg/L 57% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 1/1 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Burlington
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| BURLINGTON WATER DEPT | 25,864 |
Frequently asked questions about Burlington tap water
Is Burlington tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 26 contaminants in the water serving Burlington. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Burlington?
1 public water supplier report drinking-water monitoring for Burlington, Massachusetts to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Burlington's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Burlington include Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrite, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.