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 looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Although water quality varies across any metro, New Bedford's systems collectively post above-average compliance scores for MA - and documented violations are few.
How New Bedford Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About New Bedford Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 4 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0056 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 89% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,250 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.59 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in New Bedford
Residential water service in New Bedford, MA is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 3 systems on file with federal regulators.
- B
- B
- B
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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 9 | 2 |
| Contaminant 3002 | Other | 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
- 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 New Bedford
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
Top Contaminants in New Bedford Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in New Bedford
With 89% 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
Two dates define the high-risk tiers of residential plumbing from a lead standpoint: 1970, before which lead pipes were commonly installed for service connections, and 1986, before which lead solder was standard in copper plumbing. A median build year of 1914 places New Bedford's housing distribution well within that older risk zone. The bar chart above breaks down how much of the stock falls into each era - and the pre-1986 share alone represents more than half the residential inventory, making plumbing-era risk a defining characteristic of the local water safety picture.
Over half of homes in New Bedford 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for New Bedford Homeowners
Low proportionality - that's the New Bedford picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in New Bedford are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,233–$3,617 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 40% below the Massachusetts average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in New Bedford
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.
Households with kids in the home - for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure - face a specific local picture in New Bedford. 89% of homes here come from the pre-rule era, and aggregate utility samples either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L. A baseline draw-test kit and certified lead-removal filtration are available via retailer networks for households confirming conditions at a specific tap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in New Bedford
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 <strong>$2,250</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for New Bedford, MA