New Bedford, Massachusetts — the old whaling city on Buzzards Bay — carries an environmental burden that has taken decades to even partially address. New Bedford Harbor is one of the largest and most expensive Superfund cleanup sites in the United States, contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from decades of electronics manufacturing.
The good news: New Bedford’s drinking water doesn’t come from the harbor. The not-so-great news: the contamination still affects the community in ways that intersect with how residents think about water safety.
The PCB Problem
From the 1940s through the 1970s, electronics manufacturers — primarily Aerovox and Cornell-Dubilier — operated capacitor manufacturing plants in New Bedford. These facilities used PCBs as insulating fluids. PCB-laden waste was discharged into the city’s storm drains and sewer system, which emptied into New Bedford Harbor.
By the time PCBs were banned in 1979, an estimated 100,000 pounds of PCBs had accumulated in harbor sediments. The contamination extended into the Acushnet River estuary and Buzzards Bay.
In 1983, the EPA designated New Bedford Harbor as a Superfund site. Cleanup has been ongoing ever since — more than four decades of dredging, capping, and treating contaminated sediments. It’s one of the most complex and expensive environmental remediation projects in U.S. history.
PCBs are persistent organic pollutants. They don’t break down readily in the environment. They bioaccumulate in fish and shellfish. They’re associated with cancer, immune system effects, reproductive problems, and developmental issues in children.
New Bedford’s Drinking Water: A Separate Story
Here’s the critical point many residents don’t realize: New Bedford’s drinking water supply is separate from the harbor contamination.
The city’s water comes from the Quittapahilla Reservoir system — surface water reservoirs in Dartmouth and surrounding communities, managed by the New Bedford Department of Public Infrastructure Water Division. These reservoirs are located inland, protected from the coastal contamination.
The treatment process includes conventional filtration, disinfection, corrosion control, and fluoridation. According to EPA ECHO data and the city’s annual water quality reports, the system has maintained compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act standards.
Key water quality parameters:
- Lead and copper — System-wide compliance maintained, though New Bedford’s old housing stock (many homes built in the 1800s and early 1900s) means lead service lines and lead solder are present
- Disinfection byproducts — THMs and HAAs managed within regulatory limits
- Turbidity — Controlled through treatment of reservoir water
- PFAS — Massachusetts has established state-level PFAS standards (PFAS6 at 20 ppt total). The city monitors for PFAS across its sources
Massachusetts PFAS Standards
Massachusetts has been among the most proactive states on PFAS regulation. The state’s MCL applies to the sum of six PFAS compounds (PFAS6) at 20 ppt — a standard that in some respects is stricter than the 2024 federal individual compound limits.
For New Bedford’s water system, this means rigorous monitoring and potential treatment obligations if PFAS levels approach the state standard. Many Massachusetts water systems have invested in granular activated carbon or other treatment technologies to address PFAS.
The sources of PFAS contamination in the New Bedford area include:
- Military installations — AFFF use at nearby military facilities
- Fire training activities — Municipal and industrial fire training with PFAS-containing foam
- Industrial sources — Manufacturing operations that used PFAS-containing materials
Lead: Old City, Old Pipes
New Bedford’s built environment dates back centuries. The city’s whaling-era wealth produced grand homes — many of which still have original plumbing from the 1800s and early 1900s.
Lead service lines, lead solder, and lead fixtures are common in older New Bedford homes. Massachusetts has been aggressive about lead service line inventories and replacement requirements, and New Bedford is working through its inventory.
For residents in older homes:
- Test your water for lead. The city can provide testing information, and certified laboratories offer residential testing
- Run the tap before using. Flush cold water for at least 30 seconds after periods of non-use
- Use cold water for cooking. Hot water dissolves more lead from pipes
- Check your service line material. Contact the water department to find out what your service line is made of
The Harbor’s Broader Impact on Community Health
While New Bedford’s drinking water isn’t directly contaminated by harbor PCBs, the Superfund site affects community health in other ways:
- Seafood advisories — Fishing restrictions remain in effect for inner harbor areas. PCBs in fish and shellfish are the primary exposure pathway for the community
- Sediment contact — Direct contact with contaminated harbor sediments poses risks, particularly for children
- Environmental justice — New Bedford’s population is predominantly low-income and minority. The community bears a disproportionate environmental burden, including the harbor contamination, industrial air pollution, and aging infrastructure
- Psychological impact — Living in a Superfund community creates chronic stress and distrust of environmental safety assurances
What’s Happening with Cleanup
The EPA’s cleanup of New Bedford Harbor is one of the agency’s longest-running Superfund projects. Major elements include:
- Hot spot dredging — Removing the most heavily contaminated sediments from the upper harbor and Acushnet River
- Confined aquatic disposal (CAD) cells — Capping contaminated sediments in place where dredging isn’t feasible
- Treatment facility — An on-site facility processes dredged sediments
- Monitoring — Ongoing water quality, sediment, and fish tissue monitoring
The cleanup has removed hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of contaminated sediment, but significant work remains. Total costs have exceeded $400 million, and the project timeline extends into the 2030s and beyond.
What Residents Can Do
- Don’t eat fish from the inner harbor. Follow posted advisories. Outer harbor and Buzzards Bay restrictions are less severe but still apply to certain species.
- Test your home water. Regardless of the harbor situation, lead from home plumbing is a real concern in older homes.
- Read the CCR. The city’s annual Consumer Confidence Report provides transparent data on what’s in your water.
- Stay informed about PFAS. Massachusetts’s strict PFAS standards mean your water system is actively monitoring. Know what the results show.
- Engage with the cleanup. The EPA holds public meetings about harbor remediation. Community involvement keeps pressure on for thorough cleanup.
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and advise on solutions appropriate for your home’s specific situation and plumbing age.
Home Treatment Options
- Point-of-use lead filters — NSF/ANSI 53-certified filters are essential for older homes until lead service lines are replaced
- Reverse osmosis — Comprehensive treatment for drinking water, addressing lead, PFAS, DBPs, and other contaminants
- Whole-house carbon filtration — Improves taste, removes chlorine, and reduces organic chemicals
- Water softeners — Less critical in New Bedford (Massachusetts water tends to be softer than Midwest/Western water) but can address specific mineral issues