Fall River, MA: 30 Violations - Home Safety 83/100
5 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Fall River: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
In the dataset behind this page, Fall River, MA receives one of the two highest grades; read the compliance history system by system for details.
How Fall River Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Fall River Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 30 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.012 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 86% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.02.
Fall River's Water Providers
Federal drinking water data connect ZIP codes in Fall River, MA to a count of 1 system, and the list on this page shows one of them. A listing reflects that link, not proof of which system serves a given street.
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 5 ZIP codes in Fall River, Massachusetts, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 92,854 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 5 ZIP codes.
4 of 4 ZIP codes 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 Fall River: 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
Fall River water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0120 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
5 of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endrin | Organic | 5 | 4 |
| BHC-gamma (Lindane) | Organic | 5 | 4 |
| Methoxychlor | Organic | 5 | 4 |
| Toxaphene | Organic | 5 | 4 |
| Dalapon | Organic | 5 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02720 | B | 30 | 0 | Fall River Water Department |
| 02721 | B | 30 | 0 | Fall River Water Department |
| 02723 | B | 30 | 0 | Fall River Water Department |
| 02724 | B | 30 | 0 | Fall River Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Fall River
- 02720 [B] - 30 violations
- 02721 [B] - 30 violations
- 02722
- 02723 [B] - 30 violations
- 02724 [B] - 30 violations
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.
Fall River 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 Fall River's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Fall River Infrastructure Age
With 86% 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
Plumbing risk in older housing is tied to the period before 1986, when lead pipes and lead solder were still permitted in new plumbing. Fall River's median build year is 1946, and properties from before that year might still contain lead-bearing joints or pipes. Much of that risk sits inside individual properties, which city-level water quality averages don't capture.
Over half of homes in Fall River 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.
Fall River: 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.
Two pieces of area data frame lead for Fall River families. First, the average of ZIP-level 90th-percentile lead results is 0.010 mg/L or higher. Second, census figures put homes built before 1986, which are more likely to contain lead pipes, fixtures or solder, at about 86% of the housing stock. Neither figure measures a particular home, so a certified lab test of the tap water is the step that shows the lead level there.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Fall River: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Fall River contains 24 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $9,934. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 33% 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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Fall River, MA