🇺🇸 City — United States Population: 1,323

Can I Drink Tap Water in Boston?

Q: What contaminants are in Boston tap water?

Monitored contaminants include: Lead, PFOA, PFOS, Arsenic, Chromium-6, Nitrate, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Radium (combined 226/228), Chlorine (residual disinfectant). Boston’s tap water is generally safe to drink under United States standards. The supply is mainly a mix of surface and groundwater sources and is treated with chlorination, chloramination, ozonation, filtration, coagulation/flocculation, UV treatment. Most visitors can drink from the tap; bottled water is optional for taste.

Safe

4.2/5

Quick Answer

Tap water in Boston is safe to drink and regulated under United States’s national drinking water standards.

Boston’s tap water is generally safe to drink under United States standards. The supply is mainly a mix of surface and groundwater sources and is treated with chlorination, chloramination, ozonation, filtration, coagulation/flocculation, UV treatment. Most visitors can drink from the tap; bottled water is optional for taste.

Rankings & Comparisons

Safety Overview

Global rank #75 out of 152

Safety rating 4.2/5

Dataset average 3.8/5

Rank in United States #7 out of 11

United States average 4.2/5

Top Cities in United States

1 🇺🇸
San Francisco
4.8/5 Safe
2 🇺🇸
New York
4.5/5 Safe
3 🇺🇸
San Jose
4.2/5 Safe
4 🇺🇸
Washington D.C.
4.2/5 Safe
5 🇺🇸
Miami
4.2/5 Safe
6 🇺🇸
Honolulu
4.2/5 Safe
7 🇺🇸
Boston
4.2/5 Safe
8 🇺🇸
Las Vegas
4.1/5 Safe

Water Quality Details

Boston’s drinking water is supplied under United States’s national standards and monitored by local utilities and health authorities. The system draws primarily from a mix of surface and groundwater sources and uses chlorination, chloramination, ozonation, filtration, coagulation/flocculation, UV treatment before distribution through the city network. Taste and mineral content can vary by neighborhood and building age, and the water is typically hard with an estimated TDS around 350 mg/L. If you notice a chlorine or mineral taste, chilling the water or using an activated carbon filter can improve flavor without affecting safety.

Water sourceMixed sources

TreatmentChlorination, Chloramination, Ozonation, Filtration, Flocculation, UV Treatment

HardnessHard

TDS350 ppm

Taste rating3/5

Taste noteschlorine taste common in most municipal systems · mineral or metallic taste in hard-water regions (Midwest, Southwest) · taste varies significantly by region and water source · some groundwater-sourced systems have a cleaner, more neutral taste

Contaminant Data

Contaminant	Measured	Limit	Status
Lead	0.005 mg/L	0.015 mg/L EPA Lead Action Level (being lowered to 0.010 mg/L under 2024 LCRI)	OK
PFOA	0.002 ug/L	0.004 ug/L EPA PFAS NPDWR (April 2024)	OK
PFOS	0.002 ug/L	0.004 ug/L EPA PFAS NPDWR (April 2024)	OK
Arsenic	0.005 mg/L	0.01 mg/L EPA MCL	OK
Chromium-6	0.04 ppb	0.1 ppb EPA MCL (total chromium)	OK
Nitrate	5 mg/L	10 mg/L EPA MCL	OK
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)	40 ug/L	80 ug/L EPA MCL	OK
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	20 ug/L	60 ug/L EPA MCL	OK
Radium (combined 226/228)	1.5 pCi/L	5 pCi/L EPA MCL	OK
Chlorine (residual disinfectant)	2 mg/L	4 mg/L EPA MRDL	OK

Practical Tips

🧊 Ice is safe 🪧 Brushing teeth safe 🍽 Restaurant water safe 🔥 Boiling effective 💧 Filter recommended

Tap water is safe to drink throughout the city
In older buildings, let the tap run for 10–20 seconds before drinking
Chill tap water to reduce any chlorine taste
Use an activated carbon pitcher if you prefer a milder taste
Carry a refillable bottle to avoid single-use plastics
Ice is generally safe in reputable restaurants and hotels

Bottled water~$1.5 USD (Everywhere)

Recommended filtersActivated Carbon, Reverse Osmosis

Traveler Advice

Risk level: Low Diarrhea risk: Low

Boston tap water is safe for most travelers. You can drink, brush teeth, and use ice in reputable restaurants and hotels. If you have a sensitive stomach or dislike mineral taste, opt for filtered or bottled water.

No acclimation period needed. International visitors may notice a chlorine taste compared to European water, but this poses no health risk. Water quality is consistent in cities; rural private wells are less regulated.

Tap water is safe in virtually all public water systems across the country
Avoid drinking water from untested private wells, especially in rural agricultural areas
Homes built before 1986 may have lead pipes or solder; run cold water for 30 seconds before drinking if unsure
If visiting areas with known water advisories (check EPA or local utility websites), use bottled or filtered water
Immunocompromised travelers may want to use a point-of-use filter as an extra precaution

Sources & References

Government

CDC - About Drinking Water

Government

EPA - National Primary Drinking Water Regulations

Government

EPA - Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Official Report

EPA - PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (April 2024)

Government

EPA - Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Final Rule (October 2024)

Government