Iron in Massachusetts well water
In Massachusetts, iron was detected in 78% of 3,961 tested private well samples.
Iron is a nuisance rather than a health hazard: rust stains, metallic taste, and clogged fixtures above 300 ug/L. It often occurs with manganese and can feed iron bacteria that foul plumbing.
Check your iron number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Test your Massachusetts well for iron
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
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Systems that remove iron
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Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For iron
Iron and manganese oxidizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,800
Air-injection or greensand media; fixes staining at the source.
Rather have it installed and sized for your well? Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company.
Where to get a well tested for iron in Massachusetts: certified labs, state programs and prices.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit; counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Above EPA limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | no limit | 53 | 100% | 60 | 13,000 ug/L |
| Berkshire | no limit | 124 | 98% | 40 | 28,000 ug/L |
| Dukes | no limit | 31 | 97% | 320 | 13,000 ug/L |
| Norfolk | no limit | 154 | 96% | 3,750 | 260,000 ug/L |
| Essex | no limit | 277 | 95% | 80 | 42,800 ug/L |
| Hampden | no limit | 94 | 95% | 75 | 7,020 ug/L |
| Worcester | no limit | 360 | 93% | 130 | 260,000 ug/L |
| Middlesex | no limit | 499 | 92% | 140 | 230,000 ug/L |
| Bristol | no limit | 55 | 85% | 160 | 4,430 ug/L |
| Plymouth | no limit | 297 | 78% | 10 | 180,000 ug/L |
| Barnstable | no limit | 1,974 | 64% | 10 | 35,000 ug/L |
- Canton, Norfolk County100% detected of 82
- Wenham, Essex County100% detected of 50
- Bolton, Worcester County100% detected of 59
- Hubbardston, Worcester County100% detected of 41
- Millbury, Worcester County97% detected of 30
- West Newbury, Essex County95% detected of 63
- Andover, Essex County95% detected of 80
- Wayland, Middlesex County94% detected of 83
- Newton, Middlesex County93% detected of 74
- Chelmsford, Middlesex County92% detected of 199
- Sturbridge, Worcester County91% detected of 56
- Truro, Barnstable County90% detected of 72
- Orleans, Barnstable County87% detected of 137
- Charlton, Worcester County79% detected of 42
- Plymouth, Plymouth County77% detected of 88
- Barnstable Town, Barnstable County76% detected of 37
- Wareham, Plymouth County66% detected of 73
- Sandwich, Barnstable County65% detected of 303
- Bourne, Barnstable County64% detected of 39
- Falmouth, Barnstable County59% detected of 1,223
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. iron counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.