Looking at federal compliance records for Brookline, MA: the city earns a grade in the top two bands here, and each serving system's violation history can be reviewed individually for what lies behind it.

Data: EPA SDWIS

Overview

We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Brookline, Massachusetts (population ~53,677), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 738,838 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 2 ZIP codes.

The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Brookline: B (83/100)

Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:

Factor	What It Measures
Water Quality	EPA violations and compliance history
PFAS MCL Screen	UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs
Radon Risk	EPA radon zone classification
Annual AQI	EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days

Water Sources

Brookline water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

• Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0058 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
• 0 of 2 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

2 of 2 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Areas with No Violations

All ZIP Codes in Brookline

• 02445 [B]
• 02446 [B]

Data Sources

• Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
• Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
• Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Housing Age Profile

Some homes in Brookline predate the 1986 federal restrictions on lead in new pipe and solder, so a tap test is a reasonable step for older homes; median build year: 1924.

1924

Median Year Built

90%

Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)

75%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Pre-1970 (75%) 1970–1986 (15%) Post-1986 (10%)

Over half of homes in Brookline were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Protecting Children from Lead in Brookline

90%

Homes Built Before 1986

0.0058

mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Brookline

15

Total FEMA Flood Claims

$39,206

Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data

50%

A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Brookline contains 15 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $39,206. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.

How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure.

Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.

Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.