Buzzards Bay, MA: 1 Violation - Home Safety 66/100
2 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Buzzards Bay: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Buzzards Bay, MA holds a middle-tier grade; review the underlying water system records for the reasons behind it.
How Buzzards Bay Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Buzzards Bay Residents
- Water systems mapped to your city have 1 violation on record since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0044 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 82% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.93.
Buzzards Bay's Water Providers
Service in Buzzards Bay, MA can differ by address: 5 water systems are tied to the area in federal records, and the 3 largest are listed with their violation records.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts (population ~14,034), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 60,362 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 2 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Buzzards Bay: C (66/100)
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
Buzzards Bay water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0044 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code 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.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02532 | C | 1 | 0 | Bourne Water District |
All ZIP Codes in Buzzards Bay
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.
Buzzards Bay Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Buzzards Bay's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Buzzards Bay Infrastructure Age
With 82% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Renovation history matters as much as age: in Buzzards Bay, with a median build year of 1965, some older homes have been replumbed and some have not.
Over half of homes in Buzzards Bay 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Buzzards Bay
Estimated remediation for Buzzards Bay is a small fraction of median property value - one percent or less - though the ratio does not describe any single household.
Estimated remediation costs in Buzzards Bay can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 15% below the Massachusetts average.
Buzzards Bay: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Buzzards Bay: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Buzzards Bay contains 245 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $11,700. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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. The $500 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
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.
What You Can Do in Buzzards Bay
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Consumer Confidence Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Buzzards Bay: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 82% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Buzzards Bay, MA