Norwell issues boil water order after E. coli is found

Town officials in Norwell, Massachusetts, have issued a boil water order for all residents and businesses. This follows the detection of E. coli in a water sample collected on July 7th, with the town notified on Wednesday. Until further notice, tap water must be boiled for at least a minute before use for drinking, cooking, and other personal uses. Update (Ground News, 09.07.2026, 23:22): Residents and businesses may also use bottled water as an alternative. The advisory remains in effect until subsequent tests clear the contamination. Update (Boston Herald, 10.07.2026, 23:22): An emergency distribution site for bottled water has been established. Officials are also working to identify the source of contamination. Update (townofnorwell.net, 10.07.2026, 23:22): The first round of E. coli testing is complete, with all sites returning negative results. The MA DEP requires two successful rounds before lifting the boil water order, and the second round is anticipated for Saturday morning. All-clear (Town of Norwell, 11.07.2026, 23:21): The boil water order has been lifted effective immediately. Recent testing confirms the water supply now meets all safety standards, making it safe for residents to use tap water as normal. Update (South Shore News, 11.07.2026, 23:23): Norwell is in violation of the PFAS6 drinking water standard at its Washington Street plant, as samples averaged 21 ppt in early 2026, exceeding the 20 ppt state limit. A PFAS bottle-filling station is available at 79 Grove Street while the town designs new treatment.

Location

Norwell, Massachusetts

Country

🇺🇸 USA

Start

09/07/2024, 02:00

End

10/07/2026, 05:15

Event type

Boil water advisory, Microbiological, Limit exceeded, Chemical contamination

Status

Lifted

Region

Massachusetts

Last updated

14/07/2026, 23:20