CITY REPORT MA HEALTH VIOLATIONS: 2

Great Barrington, MA: 4 Violations - Home Safety 83/100

1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Great Barrington: B.

This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.

Great Barrington, MA scores in the upper band of the ZipCheckup grade.

How Great Barrington Compares

Great Barrington83/100
Massachusetts avg70/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
3
Water Systems
1
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
B · 83
Avg Safety Score
Zone 2
County Radon Potential (Moderate)
$479K
Median Home Value
$300
Est. Remediation (0.1% of home value)

Key Facts for Great Barrington Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 4 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0029 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 70% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $300 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.11.

Great Barrington's Water Providers

Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 3 shown below do not apply to the others among the 3 tied to Great Barrington, MA.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 8,813 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Great Barrington: 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

Great Barrington water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0029 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

1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is 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
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 6 1
Public Notice Rule Reporting 2 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
01230 B 4 2 Great Barrington Fire District

All ZIP Codes in Great Barrington

  • 01230 [B] - 4 violations ⚠

Data Sources

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

Great Barrington Community Health Snapshot

12%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
10.9%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
16.9%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

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

Asthma 12% ↑
Diabetes 10.9% ↑
Mental Health 16.9% ↑

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

What's in Great Barrington's Water?

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 6 violations
Disinfection Byproducts · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 0.06 mg/L
Increased cancer risk with long-term exposure above the MCL
Public Notice Rule 2 violations
Reporting

Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.

Great Barrington Infrastructure Age

1979
Median Build Year
70%
Built Before 1986
50%
Built Before 1970
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 70% 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

Lead can reach tap water from service lines, solder and brass fittings inside a building, which is why housing age draws attention in Great Barrington, where the median build year is 1979.

1979
Median Year Built
70%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
50%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (50%) 1970–1986 (20%) Post-1986 (30%)

Over half of homes in Great Barrington 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 Great Barrington

Low tier for Great Barrington: remediation estimated at up to 1% of what homes are worth.

Median Home Value
$479,200
Est. Remediation
$300
Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Estimated remediation costs in Great Barrington can be compared with local home values. The $150–$600 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 15% below the Massachusetts average.

Great Barrington: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

70%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0029
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.

Great Barrington: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

45
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$6,389
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
100%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Great Barrington contains 45 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $6,389. 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 $300 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 Great Barrington, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Great Barrington, MA?
Great Barrington has an average Home Safety Score of 83/100 (Grade B) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. 4 violations appear in EPA records for water systems mapped to these ZIP codes. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving Great Barrington?
EPA records list 4 EPA violations, including 2 health-based violations for Great Barrington water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 1 mapped ZIP code.
Does Great Barrington water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Great Barrington is 0.0029 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Great Barrington compare to Massachusetts average?
Great Barrington has an average Home Safety Score of 83/100, which is at or above the Massachusetts state average of 70/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Great Barrington?
Our records map 3 water systems to 1 ZIP code in Great Barrington. The related population figure in our data is approximately 8,813 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Great Barrington?
Estimated remediation cost per household in Great Barrington: $300; modeled range $150 to $600. Estimated costs may include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, or flood protection where applicable.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Great Barrington, MA: 4 Violations - Home Safety 83/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/great-barrington/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ma-great-barrington,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Great Barrington, MA: 4 Violations - Home Safety 83/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/great-barrington/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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