CITY REPORT MA HEALTH VIOLATIONS: 3

New Bedford, MA: 3 Health Violations - Home Safety 83/100

6 ZIP codes · 3 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for New Bedford: B.

This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.

Across New Bedford, MA, the overall grade falls in the upper range - a summary score, not a measurement taken at any single tap.

How New Bedford Compares

New Bedford83/100
Massachusetts avg70/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

6
ZIP Codes
3
Water Systems
2
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
B · 83
Avg Safety Score
Zone 2
County Radon Potential (Moderate)
$340K
Median Home Value
$800
Est. Remediation (0.2% of home value)

What You Should Know About New Bedford Water

  • Your city's water systems recorded 4 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0056 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 89% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $800 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.59.

Who Supplies Your Water in New Bedford

Multiple utilities show up for New Bedford, MA: 3 are listed here out of 3 tracked federally.

Overview

We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in New Bedford, Massachusetts, covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 100,689 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 6 ZIP codes.

2 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (50%) have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for New Bedford: 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

New Bedford water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0056 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

6 of 6 ZIP records with known zones are 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 9 2
Enterococci Microbiological 3 2

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
02740 B 4 3 City of New Bedford Dpi
02744 B 4 3 City of New Bedford Dpi

Areas with No Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score System Population
02745 B City of New Bedford Dpi 101,079
02746 — City of New Bedford Dpi 101,079

All ZIP Codes in New Bedford

Data Sources

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

Health Outcomes in New Bedford

12.3%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
10.4%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
17.9%
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 12.3% ↑
Diabetes 10.4% ↓
Mental Health 17.9% ↑

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

Top Contaminants in New Bedford Water

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 9 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
Enterococci 3 violations
Microbiological

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

Housing & Infrastructure in New Bedford

1914
Median Build Year
89%
Built Before 1986
75%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Lead
Likely Pipe Material

With 89% 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

If you live in one of the pre-1986 homes in New Bedford, a certified lab test for lead is the direct way to learn what your tap delivers; the median build year of 1914 is only context.

1914
Median Year Built
89%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
75%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (75%) 1970–1986 (14%) Post-1986 (11%)

Over half of homes in New Bedford 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 New Bedford Homeowners

Relative to home values, New Bedford remediation estimates run low.

Median Home Value
$339,600
Est. Remediation
$800
Remediation as % of home value 0.2%

Estimated remediation costs in New Bedford can be compared with local home values. The $450–$1,550 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 40% below the Massachusetts average.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in New Bedford

89%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0056
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.

Historical NFIP Claim Context in New Bedford

80
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$29,607
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
83%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for New Bedford contains 80 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $29,607. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 83% 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 $800 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 New Bedford, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for New Bedford, MA?
New Bedford 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 New Bedford?
EPA records list 4 EPA violations, including 3 health-based violations for New Bedford water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 6 mapped ZIP codes.
Does New Bedford water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of New Bedford is 0.0056 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 New Bedford compare to Massachusetts average?
New Bedford 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 New Bedford?
Our records map 3 water systems to 6 ZIP codes in New Bedford. The related population figure in our data is approximately 100,689 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in New Bedford?
Estimated remediation cost per household in New Bedford: $800; modeled range $450 to $1,550. 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). New Bedford, MA: 3 Health Violations - Home Safety 83/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/new-bedford/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ma-new-bedford,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{New Bedford, MA: 3 Health Violations - Home Safety 83/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/new-bedford/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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