PFOA
1.5× the limitPerfluorooctanoic acid
5.9ng/L
Each block = 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
EPA UCMR 5 · sampled 2023Evidence
North Adams Water Dept serves 13,000 people from surface water. 31 results are on record. PFOA had a sample above a 2024 EPA limit (not a violation: the limit is judged on a yearly average, due 2029); everything else measured is within its reference or not detected.
The bar is drawn in blocks of the 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024), so the length shows how far above it the result sits.
5.9ng/L
Each block = 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
4,756service lines inventoried
From the utility's inventory reported to EPA (2026Q2). Look up your address with the utility.
1health-based violation in the last 10 years
From EPA SDWIS. Counted once per contaminant per year, as in the Track record score.
No result is not a pass. Your utility's annual water quality report may list them, and a certified lab test covers your own tap.
A federal limit (an MCL or action level) is an enforceable legal cap; a health goal is often stricter. Meeting the limit is a compliance fact, not a health clearance, and PurityMap publishes no overall compliance verdict.
The records describe the system. A certified lab test shows what reaches your glass.
PFOA 5.9 ng/L in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024
Understand water treatment technologies →
Understand:PFAS in North Adams
★ Best choice: Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200), certified for PFOA and lead.
| Pick | Product | Certification | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice |
NORTH ADAMS WATER DEPT (PWS ID MA1209000) is a public water system serving 13,000 people in North Adams, Massachusetts.
NORTH ADAMS WATER DEPT is on record as drawing from surface water. The source shapes which contaminants matter most for this system.
PurityMap's record for NORTH ADAMS WATER DEPT holds 31 findings: 1 above a reference and 30 not detected, from 31 evidence records. Every finding links to its source; a substance that was never monitored is shown as pending, not as a pass.
PurityMap does not issue a safety verdict. It publishes NORTH ADAMS WATER DEPT's measured results against each contaminant's benchmark so you can read them in context. Safety depends on the specific finding, your plumbing, and how the water reaches your tap.
The latest published record for NORTH ADAMS WATER DEPT is dated 2026-10-15. Utilities report on regulatory cycles, so results reflect the monitoring period rather than a live reading.
No. It is assessed at the water-system level from NORTH ADAMS WATER DEPT's own monitoring. It does not cover the service line to your building or the plumbing inside it, which can add lead and other metals after the water leaves the system. A tap test is the way to know what reaches your glass.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was detected in this record. Each finding shows its measured value, its reference and its source on this page.
Start with what the record shows: the PFAS findings above list each measured value against its reference. This record cannot show your home's plumbing, so a tap test tells you what reaches your glass. If you decide to treat your water, look for a filter whose certification covers the specific PFAS compounds in your record; the section "Certified for a concern found here" lists only products with a current certification record for these concerns.
Follow North Adams Water Dept
One email when a new sampling round is published, a result moves above or below its reference, or the system's score changes.
Follow this water →As listed for this system in EPA's records. Your water bill names your supplier.
| Substance | Result | Reference | Sampled | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| 9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS) | < 2 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals) | < 5 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-02-22 | Not detected | — |
| Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA) | < 20 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) | < 6 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-02-22 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) | < 3 ng/L | 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit) | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | < 3 ng/L | 400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state) | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) | < 3 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | View evidence |
| Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA) | < 4 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) | < 4 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | 5.9 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Above guideline | View evidence |
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) | < 4 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | View evidence |
| Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS) | < 4 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) | < 8 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-02-22 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) | < 7 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-02-22 | Not detected | — |
| Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) | < 2 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023-05-18 to 2024-04-03 | Not detected | — |
| Lithium | < 9 µg/L | 10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit) | 2023-05-18 to 2024-02-22 | Not detected | — |
| Lead (90th percentile) | Non-Detect (ND) | 15 µg/L federal action level | 2025–2025 monitoring period | Not detected | View evidence |
UCMR5 Analytical Results
UCMR5 Analytical Results: NORTH ADAMS WATER DEPT (MA1209000)
US EPA
State SDWIS Compliance Record
Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: NORTH ADAMS WATER DEPT (MA1209000)
US EPA SDWIS
| Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) |
| $$ |
| Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M) | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | $$ | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2) | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | $$ | Check price at Aquasana |
| Pick | Product | Certification | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also good | SmartFlow® Reverse Osmosis | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53 (includes P473), WQA) | $$$ | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | Waterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | $$$ | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | $$$ | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | AquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100) | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | $$$ | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000) | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | $$$ | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Patriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, NSF, IAPMO) | $$ | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | iSpring RCC7AK Alkaline Reverse Osmosis SystemUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA | $$ | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | iSpring RO5004F Tankless Reverse Osmosis System with UVUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA | $$$ | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Waterdrop X12 Reverse Osmosis System | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA | $$$$ | Check price at Waterdrop |
★ Best choice: HealthShield™, certified for PFOA.
| Pick | Product | Certification | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | HealthShield™ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | $$$$ | Check price at Aquasana |
| $ Budget pick | iSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House FilterUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA | $$$ | Check price at iSpring |
Also: lead picks →
PurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Lead service lines
NORTH ADAMS WATER DEPT reported 2 lead and 72 galvanized service lines to replace in EPA’s inventory (2026Q2). Many utilities replace these lines for free or share the cost. Ask NORTH ADAMS WATER DEPT whether your home’s line is on its list before you pay anyone.
Local help
Call to be connected with a local plumbing provider about lead service lines, repiping or fixture replacement.