133 School Districts in Lead Risk Zones

Data source: ZipCheckup analysis of EPA SDWIS, NCES school data, Census housing age

In Fall River, Massachusetts, children head to school each morning through neighborhoods where the median home was built in 1940. The water system serving their schools has detected lead — and the plumbing delivering that water to drinking fountains and kitchen faucets is older than most of their grandparents.

Fall River isn't unique. Our analysis of EPA water quality data, school district locations, and housing age records identified 133 ZIP codes across America where children attend school in lead risk zones — areas combining detected lead contamination with infrastructure old enough to make the problem worse.

What Makes a "School Zone Lead Risk"

We flagged a ZIP code as a school-zone lead risk when three conditions converged:

1. Active school presence — the ZIP code contains public schools serving children
2. Lead detections — water quality data shows lead levels approaching or exceeding the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion
3. Pre-1986 infrastructure — median housing year predates the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments that banned lead solder and pipes

The 1986 cutoff matters because that's when federal law prohibited lead pipes and lead solder in new plumbing. Homes and schools built before that date may still have lead service lines, lead solder joints, or brass fixtures containing lead.

Where Children Are Most at Risk

The 133 school-zone lead risk ZIPs concentrate in states with older housing stock and legacy industrial infrastructure:

New York alone accounts for 39% of all school-zone lead risk ZIPs — a reflection of the state's aging infrastructure and industrial legacy. Many of the affected ZIP codes are in post-industrial cities where housing stock dates to the 1920s-1950s.

The Worst Cases

Some examples illustrate the severity:

Fall River, MA (02720) — Median home year: 1940. Lead detected in water supply. School-age children attend buildings connected to infrastructure that has been in the ground for over 80 years.

Medford, MA (02155) — Median home year: 1946. Lead risk zone with active schools. Just north of Boston, this dense suburban community has plumbing infrastructure from the immediate post-war building boom — an era when lead solder was standard.

Fall River, MA (02721) — Median home year: 1949. A second Fall River ZIP code flagged, underscoring that lead risk in this city is systemic, not isolated to a single neighborhood.

Why Old Plumbing Is the Hidden Multiplier

Lead in source water is one problem. But the delivery system — the pipes, solder, and fixtures between the treatment plant and the tap — is often the bigger contributor.

Here's how the chain works:

1. Lead service lines (pipes connecting the water main to a building) were commonly installed before 1950 and remain in an estimated 9.2 million homes nationwide
2. Lead solder was used to join copper pipes until banned in 1986 — it remains in millions of buildings
3. Brass fixtures (faucets, valves) can contain up to 8% lead under pre-2014 standards
4. Corrosive water accelerates lead leaching from all these sources

When a ZIP code has both lead in the water supply AND pre-1950s infrastructure, the exposure multiplies. The water arriving at the treatment plant may be adequately treated, but by the time it reaches a school drinking fountain through 80-year-old pipes, lead levels can spike.

The Regulatory Gap for Schools

Federal law requires schools to test for lead in water — but the requirements vary dramatically by state:

• Some states mandate testing at every fixture
• Others test only at the building entry point
• Some have no state-level requirement at all, relying on voluntary federal programs
• Testing frequency ranges from annual to "one-time" to "upon request"

The EPA's 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools program is voluntary. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $15 billion for lead service line replacement but set no timeline for completing school-connected lines.

What Parents Can Do Right Now

If your child attends school in one of these 133 ZIP codes — or any area with aging infrastructure — here are immediate steps:

At Home

• Run the tap for 30-60 seconds before using water for drinking or cooking, especially first thing in the morning. Standing water in lead pipes absorbs more lead.
• Use cold water for cooking and drinking. Hot water dissolves more lead from pipes.
• Install a certified filter. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead removal. See our lead filter guide for recommendations.
• Test your water. Home lead testing kits cost $20-$40 for a screening test. For confirmation, send a sample to a certified lab ($20-$80).

At School

• Request test results. Ask your school administration for the most recent lead-in-water testing results. If they haven't tested, request it in writing.
• Advocate for fixture-level testing. Building entry testing misses the lead that accumulates between the meter and the faucet — where most lead exposure occurs.
• Support filter installation. Filtered water stations at schools cost $500-$2,000 per unit and dramatically reduce exposure.

Check Your ZIP Code

Enter your ZIP code at ZipCheckup to see your area's full safety report — including lead risk score, housing age, violation history, and school district information. Share it with other parents and school board members.

The Stakes

The CDC is unequivocal: there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Even low levels — below the EPA's 15 ppb action level — are associated with:

• Reduced IQ (2-5 points per 10 µg/dL blood lead increase)
• Behavioral problems and attention disorders
• Delayed development and learning difficulties
• Effects that may be permanent

The 133 ZIP codes identified in our analysis represent the most visible tip of a larger problem. Lead service lines exist in millions of locations nationwide, and infrastructure replacement is decades behind schedule. Until those pipes are replaced, testing and filtration remain the front line of protection.

Methodology: School-zone lead risk anomalies are identified by cross-referencing NCES school district location data with EPA SDWIS lead detection records and Census ACS median housing year data. A ZIP qualifies when it contains active schools, has lead detections approaching or exceeding the 15 ppb action level, and has median housing year before 1960 (indicating pre-1986 plumbing is widespread). Data current as of March 2026.