Lowell, MA: 1 Violation - Home Safety 49/100
5 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Lowell: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
Systems across Lowell show elevated violation counts against MA benchmarks - the low safety grade reflects that ongoing compliance pattern.
How Lowell Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Lowell Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 1 violation in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0006 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 83% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 9.88.
Lowell's Water Providers
Water delivery in Lowell, MA is handled by 2 utilities rather than a single system - drawn from 2 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 5 ZIP codes in Lowell, Massachusetts, covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 114,799 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 Lowell: D (49/100)
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
Lowell water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0006 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 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 5 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 5 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01850 | D | 1 | 0 | Lowell Regional Water Utility |
| 01851 | D | 1 | 0 | Lowell Regional Water Utility |
| 01852 | D | 1 | 0 | Lowell Regional Water Utility |
| 01854 | D | 1 | 0 | Lowell Regional Water Utility |
All ZIP Codes in Lowell
- 01850 [D] - 1 violation
- 01851 [D] - 1 violation
- 01852 [D] - 1 violation
- 01853
- 01854 [D] - 1 violation
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.
Lowell 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 Lowell's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Lowell Infrastructure Age
With 83% 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
Lead solder was standard in copper plumbing until federally banned in 1986; lead pipes were common in service lines pre-1970. Lowell's median build year of 1931 reflects a housing stock where these older materials are a pervasive feature - not a rare legacy - of the residential plumbing landscape.
Over half of homes in Lowell 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 Lowell
While no remediation project is entirely without cost, the relationship between estimated remediation and property values in Lowell is notably favorable - the equity share is small enough that the household financial perspective is one of proportionality rather than pressure, and most homeowners can treat it as routine planning rather than a significant financial event.
Remediation costs in Lowell are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,000–$4,020 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 29% below the Massachusetts average.
Lowell: 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 Lowell represents 83% 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.
Lowell: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Lowell contains 257 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $25,056. 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 <strong>$3,000</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.
What You Can Do in Lowell
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Lowell's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 83% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Lowell, MA