Ipswich, MA: 2 Violations - Home Safety 50/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Ipswich: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Low marks: Ipswich, MA sits below the midpoint of the ZipCheckup grade scale.
How Ipswich Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Ipswich Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.01 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 71% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.73.
Who Supplies Your Water in Ipswich
Public water system records for Ipswich, MA point to a single listed provider, drawn from 1 system in the federal data; its violation record appears below.
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Ipswich, Massachusetts, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 13,820 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 Ipswich: D (50/100)
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
Ipswich water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0100 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 1.
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 | 2 | 1 |
| Nitrite | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01938 | D | 2 | 0 | Ipswich Dpu Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Ipswich
- 01938 [D] - 2 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.
Health Outcomes in Ipswich
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
Top Contaminants in Ipswich Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Ipswich
With 71% 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 Ipswich 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: 1963.
Over half of homes in Ipswich 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Ipswich Homeowners
Because the median home value in Ipswich is large relative to the estimated cost of remediation, the ratio between them stays at or below 1%; that is a statement about two area-level numbers, not a quote for a particular house or a judgment about what an owner can pay.
Estimated remediation costs in Ipswich 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 25% above the Massachusetts average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Ipswich
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.
What does the lead data say about a home in Ipswich? Only part of the story. The average of 90th-percentile lead results across the city's ZIP codes is at least 0.010 mg/L, and roughly 71% of dwellings date from the pre-1986 period. Lead usually enters drinking water from a building's own service line and plumbing, so results at any one faucet can be higher or lower than the area average.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Ipswich
Historical NFIP data for Ipswich contains 37 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $9,020. 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 Ipswich
- 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 Ipswich: 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 71% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Ipswich, MA