Essex, MA
Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.
Environmental data for Essex in Massachusetts · Population: 807,258
TRI sites such as Rousselot Peabody Inc.; Medtronic Inc; Bostik Manufacturing Plant; SDWIS systems such as LYNN WATER AND SEWER COMM; SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD; LAWRENCE WATER WORKS; NPL sites such as Creese & Cook Tannery (Former); Groveland Wells; Haverhill Municipal Landfill anchor Essex, MA's EPA extract. Derived burden score 90/100 (High Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.
Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Essex include LAWRENCE WATER WORKS; PEABODY WATER DEPT.; ANDOVER WATER DEPT, while Rousselot Peabody Inc. leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 37 / peak 1513 in 2024.
Burden score 90/100 (High Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Essex -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.
Release-over-release change
What changed for Essex, MA: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
Same facilities, both years
-7.1%
41 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023
Whole inventory
-7.2%
420.9 thousand lb → 390.4 thousand lb, every facility that filed
Between the two reporting years, 4 facilities filed for the first time and 5 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.
- Essex, MA's total reported releases fell from 418.6 thousand lb in 2022 to 388.8 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Essex, MA's off-site transfers fell from 349.9 thousand lb in 2022 to 321.8 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Essex, MA's air releases fell from 68.7 thousand lb in 2022 to 67.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
Air Quality History (2020–2024)
EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy (SG) | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 300 (82%) | 62 | 0 | 1513 |
| 2023 | 243 (67%) | 120 | 2 | 105 |
| 2022 | 276 (76%) | 84 | 5 | 113 |
| 2021 | 285 (78%) | 79 | 1 | 129 |
| 2020 | 282 (77%) | 84 | 0 | 97 |
Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)
For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Massachusetts, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.
Water Systems (49)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| LYNN WATER AND SEWER COMM | 101,253 | 0 |
| SALEM AND BEVERLY WATER SUPPLY BOARD | 90,330 | 0 |
| LAWRENCE WATER WORKS | 89,143 | 2 |
| HAVERHILL WATER DEPT | 61,277 | 0 |
| PEABODY WATER DEPT. | 54,481 | 3 |
| METHUEN WATER DEPT | 53,059 | 0 |
| BEVERLY WATER DEPT | 47,461 | 0 |
| SALEM WATER DEPARTMENT | 44,480 | 0 |
| GLOUCESTER PUBLIC UTILITY DIVISION | 37,440 | 0 |
| ANDOVER WATER DEPT | 36,569 | 3 |
| NORTH ANDOVER WATER DEPT | 30,915 | 0 |
| DANVERS WATER DEPT. | 28,087 | 0 |
| SAUGUS WATER DEPT. (MWRA) | 27,844 | 4 |
| MARBLEHEAD WATER DEPT. (MWRA) | 20,441 | 3 |
| NEWBURYPORT WATER DEPARTMENT | 20,335 | 2 |
| AMESBURY DPW WATER DIV. | 17,366 | 0 |
| SWAMPSCOTT WATER DEPT. (MWRA) | 15,300 | 4 |
| IPSWICH DPU WATER DEPT | 13,138 | 1 |
| ROCKPORT WATER DEPT | 10,000 | 2 |
| SALISBURY WATER DIVISION | 9,334 | 0 |
| GEORGETOWN WATER DEPARTMENT | 8,766 | 2 |
| LYNNFIELD CENTER WATER DISTRICT | 8,525 | 0 |
| MIDDLETON WATER DEPT. | 7,291 | 0 |
| MERRIMAC WATER DEPARTMENT | 6,988 | 3 |
| GROVELAND WATER DEPARTMENT | 6,508 | 0 |
| ROWLEY WATER DEPARTMENT | 6,161 | 5 |
| TOPSFIELD WATER DEPARTMENT | 5,435 | 2 |
| MANCHESTER BY THE SEA DPW | 5,201 | 3 |
| LYNNFIELD WATER DIST. (MWRA) | 4,820 | 3 |
| WEST NEWBURY WATER DEPARTMENT | 4,704 | 0 |
| WENHAM WATER DEPT. | 3,942 | 1 |
| ESSEX WATER DEPT. | 3,675 | 0 |
| NAHANT WATER DEPT. (MWRA) | 3,334 | 4 |
| BYFIELD WATER DISTRICT | 2,228 | 0 |
| MONTROSE CONDOS | 210 | 22 |
| PINE KNOLL VILLAGE | 200 | 0 |
| GLENGARRY CONDOS | 171 | 2 |
| FOUR MILE VILLAGE | 133 | 0 |
| WILLOW GROVE TRAILER PARK | 88 | 1 |
| MOUNTAIN VIEW MHP | 75 | 1 |
| BOUMIL GROVE CONDOS | 72 | 35 |
| WASHINGTON NORTH MHP | 63 | 2 |
| CRAWFORD POND | 58 | 0 |
| BROOKWOOD APARTMENTS | 44 | 7 |
| CLARKS MILLS APARTMENTS | 42 | 0 |
| PINE VALLEY ESTATES | 40 | 5 |
| WADE FARM CONDOS | 40 | 0 |
| COUNTRYSIDE APARTMENTS | 32 | 0 |
| SACO RIVER APARTMENTS | 30 | 0 |
TRI Facilities (50)
Superfund Sites (5)
| Site Name | Status | HRS Score |
|---|---|---|
| Creese & Cook Tannery (Former) | NPL Site | 60.57 |
| Groveland Wells | NPL Site | 40.74 |
| Haverhill Municipal Landfill | NPL Site | 30.29 |
| Microfab, Inc. (Former) | NPL Site | 50.00 |
| Salem Acres | Deleted NPL Site | 34.94 |
Cities in Essex (35)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Essex, Massachusetts? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Essex? ▼
How many toxic release facilities are in Essex? ▼
What is the air quality in Essex? ▼
Is the drinking water safe in Essex? ▼
What environmental agencies cover Essex? ▼
What does this county environmental profile show?
This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.