Melrose, MA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 64/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Melrose: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Melrose, MA: a C, mid-scale.
How Melrose Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Melrose Water
- Water systems mapped to your city have 1 violation on record since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0102 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 88% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $300 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 9.88.
Who Supplies Your Water in Melrose
A single entry in the list below does not mean one utility serves all of Melrose, MA: it means one system appears there, while federal records link 1 to the area. Service areas and ZIP codes do not line up exactly, so the utility named on a household's water bill is the one whose record applies to that home.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Melrose, Massachusetts, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 29,488 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Melrose: C (64/100)
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
Melrose water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0102 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02176 | C | 1 | 1 | Melrose Water Division (mwra) |
All ZIP Codes in Melrose
- 02176 [C] - 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.
Health Outcomes in Melrose
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 Melrose Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Melrose
With 88% 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
By Census estimates, roughly half or more of the homes in Melrose were built before 1986; the median build year is 1900.
Over half of homes in Melrose 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 Melrose Homeowners
Because the median home value in Melrose 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 Melrose 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 42% above the Massachusetts average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Melrose
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.
Households with young children in Melrose have two area numbers to weigh. One is the mean of 90th-percentile lead values reported for local ZIP codes, which is at or above 0.010 mg/L; the other is the 88% share of housing that dates from before 1986. Neither describes one home, and sending a tap sample to an accredited laboratory is how a family measures its own lead level.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Melrose
Historical NFIP data for Melrose contains 96 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $13,480. 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.
What You Can Do in Melrose
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
- Install a certified water filter. For Lead and Copper Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Melrose: 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 88% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Melrose, MA