CITY REPORT MA

Newton Lower Falls, MA: 2 Violations - Home Safety 64/100

1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Newton Lower Falls: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Newton Lower Falls, MA: middle-tier water safety by the latest federal monitoring.

How Newton Lower Falls Compares

Newton Lower Falls64/100
Massachusetts avg70/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
1
Water Systems
1
ZIPs with Violations
C · 64
Avg Safety Score
Zone 1
Radon Risk (High)
$1.3M
Median Home Value
$2,400
Est. Remediation (0.2% of home value)

Key Facts for Newton Lower Falls Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations in the past 5 years.
  • Average lead level: 0.0013 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 85% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 9.88.

Newton Lower Falls's Water Providers

Across most of Newton Lower Falls, MA, residential water comes from a single utility. That provider sets rates, manages infrastructure maintenance, and files compliance reports with the EPA on behalf of the households it serves. Federal tracking data shows 1 system on record, but one carries the bulk of the service load.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts (population ~1,459), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 88,931 people region-wide. 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 Newton Lower Falls: 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

Newton Lower Falls water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0013 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

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)

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 4 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
02462 C 2 0 Newton Water Department (mwra)

All ZIP Codes in Newton Lower Falls

  • 02462 [C] - 2 violations

Data Sources

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

Newton Lower Falls Community Health Snapshot

11.1%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
8.5%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
14.8%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 11.1% ↑
Diabetes 8.5% ↓
Mental Health 14.8% ↓

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

What's in Newton Lower Falls's Water?

Stage 1 DBP Rule 4 violations
Treatment Technique
Disinfection byproduct exposure risk

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

Newton Lower Falls Infrastructure Age

1957
Median Build Year
85%
Built Before 1986
59%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 85% 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

What does a median build year of 1957 mean for water safety in Newton Lower Falls? It means the majority of the city's residential plumbing was installed before 1986, when lead solder was federally banned, and a large share may predate 1970, when lead pipes were commonly used - making plumbing age a central variable in household-level lead risk across much of the city.

1957
Median Year Built
85%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
59%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (59%) 1970–1986 (26%) Post-1986 (15%)

Over half of homes in Newton Lower Falls 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 Newton Lower Falls

When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Newton Lower Falls, the resulting ratio is low - a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.

Median Home Value
$1.3M
Est. Remediation
$2,400
Remediation as % of home value 0.2%

Remediation costs in Newton Lower Falls are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,600–$3,300 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 125% above the Massachusetts average.

Newton Lower Falls: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

85%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0013
mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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.

85% of Newton Lower Falls housing dates to the pre-rule era, alongside aggregate readings hovering at the federal action mark - household-level confirmation through a draw-test kit fits the local picture.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Newton Lower Falls: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

9
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$3,220
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
0%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Newton Lower Falls contains 9 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $3,220. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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>$2,400</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 Newton Lower Falls

  1. 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.
  2. Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Newton Lower Falls's water.
  3. Check your home's plumbing. With 85% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Newton Lower Falls, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Newton Lower Falls, MA?
Newton Lower Falls has an average Home Safety Score of 64/100 (Grade C) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. 2 EPA violations have been recorded. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many water violations does Newton Lower Falls have?
Newton Lower Falls water systems have a total of 2 EPA violations. Violations are tracked across 1 ZIP code.
Does Newton Lower Falls water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Newton Lower Falls is 0.0013 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Newton Lower Falls compare to Massachusetts average?
Newton Lower Falls has an average Home Safety Score of 64/100, which is below the Massachusetts state average of 70/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Newton Lower Falls?
Newton Lower Falls is served by 1 public water system across 1 ZIP code, serving approximately 1,459 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Newton Lower Falls?
Estimated remediation costs in Newton Lower Falls average $2,400 per household, ranging from $1,600 to $3,300. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Newton Lower Falls, MA: 2 Violations - Home Safety 64/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/newton-lower-falls/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ma-newton-lower-falls,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Newton Lower Falls, MA: 2 Violations - Home Safety 64/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/newton-lower-falls/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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