Halifax, MA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 66/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Halifax: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Within Halifax, the records summarized for MA produce a C grade - a middle reading that calls for checking the specific system at your address.
How Halifax Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Halifax Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 60 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.006 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 60% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.05.
Halifax's Water Providers
Because water system records on this page are matched to Halifax, MA through ZIP codes rather than street addresses, the single system in the list below reflects that matching, while federal data connect 1 to the area overall. Anyone unsure which utility supplies a home can check the water bill or contact the utility directly.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Halifax, Massachusetts, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 7,734 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Halifax: 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
Halifax water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0060 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 6 | 1 |
| Nitrite | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Endrin | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| BHC-gamma (Lindane) | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| Methoxychlor | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02338 | C | 60 | 0 | Halifax Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Halifax
- 02338 [C] - 60 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.
Halifax 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 Halifax's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Halifax Infrastructure Age
With 60% 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
Some homes in Halifax 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: 1988.
Over half of homes in Halifax 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 Halifax
Of the three cost-context tiers - low, moderate and elevated - Halifax is in the low one.
Estimated remediation costs in Halifax 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 21% below the Massachusetts average.
Halifax: 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.
Halifax: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Halifax contains 3 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $805. 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 Halifax
- 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 Nitrate, listed in the water-quality records for Halifax: 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 60% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Halifax, MA