Our water quality report for 2025 is now available online.  Customers should receive a copy by mail in the next couple of weeks.  Click here to view the electronic version.

The Topsfield Water Department has instituted a Mandatory Total Outdoor Water Use Ban effective June 3, 2026. The restriction is required when the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs declares a critical drought for northeastern Massachusetts.  A critical drought was declared on May 22, 2026.

Nonessential outdoor water use is strictly prohibited. Essential outdoor water use is permitted and includes those uses that have a health or safety impact, are required by regulation or are needed to meet the core functions of a business or organization.

The restrictions apply to all water users in Topsfield, including private well owners. The restriction will remain in place until further notice.

Residents are encouraged to take the following conservation measures:

• Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when full.
• Fix any leaks around the house.
• Install water efficient toilets, faucets and showerheads.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator, rather than running the faucet to get cold water.
• Consider replacing water intensive lawns with a low water demand flower garden. The Water Department has several guide books that are available to residents. Please call us at (978) 887-1517 for more information.

The Town's Water Restriction By-law allows for non-criminal penalties to be assessed for violation of the restrictions. Enforcement of this restriction will not begin until a week after this noticed is published. The penalties are as follows:

First Violation:                             Warning
Second Violation:                          $50.00
Third Violation:                            $100.00
Fourth and subsequent Violations: $300.00
Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.

Please visit our website, www.topsfieldpublicworks.org, for more information or call the Water Department at (978) 887-1517 if you have any questions.

The Select Board has set the FY2026 water rates.   The FY2026 rate schedule is available online.  The rates are based on the budget approved at Town Meeting in May 2025 and the water use forecast for FY2026.

May 2026 Update: No rate increase is needed for FY2027.  The FY2026 rates will remain in effect.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the final PFAS regulations on April 10, 2024.  The regulations were initally issued in draft form during 2023.

EPA Regulations

The new EPA regulations set Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) at 4 parts per trillion (ppt); PFNA (perfluorononanoic acid), PFHxS (perfluorohexanesulfonic acid), and GenX (hexafluoroproplene oxide) at 10 ppt; and a hazard index for mixtures of PFNA, PFHxS, GenX and PFBS.

The new regulations are being phased into effect.  Systems are required to start testing for these compounds within 3 years, report the results in the annual Water Quality Report, and notify customers of any violations.  Systems have 5 years to comply with the new MCLs by either installing appropriate treatment or finding alternative PFAS-free water supplies.

The regulations also created Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for PFOS and PFOA of 0 ppt.  This means that EPA would like to eliminate PFOS and PFOA from water supplies accross the country but current testing protocols, treatment methods, and economic conditions make it infeasible.  We expect the MCLs to drop as testing and treatment methods improve.

Our offices are staffed during normal business hours.  If you need to contact us after hours for downed tree blocking a road, low water pressure, or to report a water main break call 911.  The Town is part of the Essex County Regional Communications Center and using 911 is the only way to contact us after hours.

Subscribe to our email list to receive water quality notices, daily hydrant flushing updates and water restriction information.

We conduct hundreds of water quality tests each year. Results are now available on our Water Quality Site which includes information about which water sources are in use. The site has been under development for several years and more functionality will be added as time permits.