Fall River, MA: 30 Violations - Home Safety 83/100
5 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Fall River: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Compared to statewide averages in MA, Fall River scores well - health violations are below the norm and systems generally operate within federal standards.
How Fall River Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Fall River Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 30 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.012 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 86% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,120 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.02 - above typical levels.
Fall River's Water Providers
The structure of water supply in Fall River, MA is straightforward: one utility provides the bulk of residential service among 1 tracked system, concentrating rate-setting and infrastructure decisions under a single organization.
- 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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 5 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 2005 | Other | 5 | 4 |
| Contaminant 2010 | Other | 5 | 4 |
| Contaminant 2015 | Other | 5 | 4 |
| Contaminant 2020 | Other | 5 | 4 |
| Contaminant 2031 | Other | 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). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
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. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
When more than half a city's housing predates the 1986 federal ban on lead solder, plumbing-era lead risk becomes a citywide concern rather than an exception. Fall River's median build year of 1946 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in Fall River were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. 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 Fall River
Because property values in Fall River comfortably exceed estimated remediation costs, the equity impact here is proportionally small.
Remediation costs in Fall River are relatively low compared to home values. The $480–$1,880 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 35% below the Massachusetts average.
Fall River: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Older stock in Fall River represents 86% of the inventory, and citywide monitoring runs at or above the federal action level - making an in-home read a standard household-level step.
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. The <strong>$1,120</strong> 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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Fall River, MA