Massachusetts Among Top States with Cleanest Tap Water

Clean and safe tap water is a fundamental necessity that we often take for granted. Whether we're quenching our thirst with a refreshing sip or enjoying a warm shower, the assumption is that our tap water is clean and safe. However, its quality can vary widely across different states due to differences in water systems and environmental factors. A recent study has identified which states can proudly claim to have the cleanest tap water.

Great Green Wall Health, a health information website, analyzed data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess the number of Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) violations in each of the 48 contiguous states during 2022. These violations relate to breaches of SDWA requirements within public water systems (PWS). To ensure a balanced evaluation accounting for differences in system sizes, they also computed the proportion of violations in relation to each state's population, resulting in a ranked list of the final outcomes.

According to their data, Massachusetts provides clean drinking water, with 2,888 violations for its nearly 7 million residents. State officials confidently assert that Massachusetts' public water supplies rank among the nation's finest. They emphasize on their website, "Every day, more than six million Bay Staters turn on the tap and take a drink of water from a public water supply. The public water supplies in Massachusetts are among the best in the country, and they are subject to the most stringent government standards in the world."

At the top of their ranking is Kentucky, which reported 100 public water system violations for its population of 4,512,310 residents. It's important to note, as outlined in Great Green Wall Health's findings, that local officials recently addressed concerns regarding potential contamination resulting from a significant train derailment that occurred in the neighboring town of East Palestine, Ohio, in February.

See which other states secured a spot in their list of the top 10 states with the cleanest tap water here.

In New England, it's confusing enough to know when you pronounce a "R" in a name and when you don't. Luckily, in these unique Massachusetts town names you won't have that problem. They are all straightforward in their spelling, and result in a chuckle.

Many of these locations are spread in rural parts of the state. Even those born and raised here may have never known they existed. The common thread between them results in two questions. Why? And, who got to select this name?

Whether we are talking about a two-state description or a 700 household community nuzzled into a larger town, there is no shortage of creativity here. Massachusetts is well-known for its wide array of Universities. In addition, we experience all four seasons to the fullest. The state is filled with passionate sports fans that stand behind five professional teams. Furthermore, there is deep history tied to very formative years of the country. From Pilgrims to Mayflowers to Rocks. Yet, none of those elements seem to factor into the naming of these municipalities.

The Bay State is certainly filled with culture. There are islands (including Five Pound Island). A Cape Cod town that combines Barn and Stable. Not to be forgotten is a coastal hamlet called Cow Yard While it was hard to pass by Second Cliff, Third Cliff and Fourth Cliff (all individual areas), here are five of the most unique Massachusetts town names.

Located in the northern corner of Berkshire County, Florida this is the highest point of the Mohawk trail. It has one school that serves Kindergarten through eighth grade. It is one of the smallest towns in the state, 337th out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts.

Technically, Weweantic is census-designated place within Wareham in Plymouth, County. However, residents typically say they live in "Weweantic". The 730 households consist of a population around 1,500 people. There's also the Weweantic River, which claims to mean a crooked or wandering stream.

Located in Hampden County, Dingley Dell is only about 15 miles from Northern Connecticut. It's south central Massachusetts. There is a large conservation area and waterfall nearby. History books have shown there was a country resort in the early years of the twentieth century in Dingley Dell.

The City of Wyoming is located in Middlesex County and often referred to as part of the larger Melrose community. There is a MBTA Commuter Rail station in Wyoming Square. The name "Wyoming" can be traced back to being affiliated with big plains or prairie land. Fun fact - there is also a Wyoming in Kent County, Michigan that holds a population of roughly 76,000 people.

Although Braintree is known as a town, it is technically considered a city. It is located within the eastern portion of Norfolk County. It is named after the Essex county town of Braintree in Eastern England. It is the largest of the unique names covering 14.6 square miles. There are six elementary schools, two middles schools, and a high school in Braintree.