Water System Report MA

Northampton Water Division

EPA ID: MA1214000 · 29,571 people served · 7 ZIP codes

Five years of EPA monitoring have produced no violations for Northampton Water Division — the supplier serving 29,571 residents has kept every contaminant level within federal limits, a result that places it among the top-performing utilities for systems with a service population of comparable size.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 76
Avg Safety Score
29,571
People Served
7
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0026 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$383K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Northampton Water Division Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$81,439
Median Household Income
46,911
Service Area Population
6%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
83%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Northampton Water Division serves a community with a median household income of $81,439 and an estimated 46,911 residents across its service area. Approximately 83% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Northampton Water Division's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
40th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Hampshire County, Massachusetts rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

81 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
5 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 94% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 4 detections recorded.

State limits: PFAS6: 0.02 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

Wellesley Water Division
29,550 people
C 2 violations
0 violations
D 1 violation
B 1 violation
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $686
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $71
Total Estimated Cost $1,157

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,157 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Northampton Water Division (EPA ID: MA1214000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 29,571 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 7 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (76/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
01060 0.0026 mg/L No N/A
01061 0.0026 mg/L No N/A
01063 0.0026 mg/L No N/A
01053 0.00255 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 5 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 2 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Northampton Water Division (MA1214000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Northampton Water Division water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Northampton Water Division has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Northampton Water Division serve?

Northampton Water Division serves approximately 29,571 people across 7 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Northampton Water Division get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
(413) 587-1570
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Contact information from City of Northampton Department of Public Works Water Division Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Blended (groundwater + surface water)
Combines water from both groundwater and surface sources.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
aluminum sulfatesodium hypochloritesodium carbonatezinc orthophosphate

Source: City of Northampton Department of Public Works Water Division Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from City of Northampton Department of Public Works Water Division Consumer Confidence Report:
Northampton was ranked as having a moderate to low risk to our water supplies. The report reviewed both watershed lands and aquifer protection zones. It identified the largest threats to our water supply as residential fuel storage and some commercial uses.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Advanced
Advanced treatment that may include ozonation, ultraviolet disinfection, activated-carbon filtration, or membrane filtration. Used when source water has elevated contamination risk or to remove disinfection byproducts.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
sodium hypochlorite
pH adjustment
Raises or lowers water acidity to protect pipes and improve treatment performance.
sodium carbonate
Corrosion inhibitor
Coats pipe interiors to reduce lead and copper leaching from premise plumbing.
zinc orthophosphate
Coagulant
Causes suspended particles to clump together so they can be removed by filtration.
aluminum sulfate

Watershed exposure sources reported

Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.

Residential fuel storageCommercial uses

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Northampton Department of Public Works Water Division Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
232

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

PFAS Substances Detected in This System

This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.

Substance Detected level EPA limit Status
PFAS6
Not yet EPA-regulated
2.16 ppt 20 ppt Below EPA limit
Perfluorobutanesulfonic Acid
Not yet EPA-regulated
2.09 ppt No federal limit set

In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →

Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by City of Northampton Department of Public Works Water Division.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.

Learn more about PFAS health effects and filtration →

Lead service line replacement plan from City of Northampton Department of Public Works Water Division Consumer Confidence Report:
Northampton Water Division has begun to comply with the new regulations by compiling a Lead Service Line Inventory (LSL) showing water service line material.

Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker

This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.

Get notified on replacement progress

Subscribers receive an email when this utility updates its LSL plan, files a milestone report, or adjusts replacement timelines. No marketing, no third-party sharing.

By submitting you agree to Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime via the link in any email.

City of Northampton Department of Public Works Water Division

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.

Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Utility-reported lead service line presence and tap-sample lead level under federal LCRI requirements:

Yes — reported
Lead Service Lines Reported
0.0012 mg/L
Tap Sample Lead Level

Below federal action level (0.015 mg/L)

MassDEP reports utility-level presence flag and tap-sampling without per-line breakdown. Customers should inquire with the utility about service line material at a specific address.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Did not report any required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2022-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 29,571
Reported to Massachusetts

Source: MassDEP LCRR Service Line Inventory · Submitted 2024

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Northampton Water Division safe to drink?
Northampton Water Division earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Northampton Water Division meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Northampton Water Division serve?
Northampton Water Division serves approximately 29,571 people with drinking water across 7 ZIP codes.
What is Northampton Water Division's water source?
Northampton Water Division draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Northampton Water Division's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0026 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Northampton Water Division's service area?
The Northampton Water Division service area has a median household income of $81,439. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Northampton Water Division get its water?
Northampton Water Division's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
Home Water Systems Massachusetts Northampton Water Division

Get safety alerts for Northampton Water Division, Massachusetts

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool — no phone call required.