CITY REPORT MA

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

1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Newton Upper Falls: C.

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

Compared to top-scoring cities in MA, Newton Upper Falls lands in the middle tier - some water systems meet standards cleanly, others carry documented violations, and performance can vary significantly across service areas.

How Newton Upper Falls Compares

Newton Upper 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 2
Radon Risk (Moderate)
$899K
Median Home Value
$1,600
Est. Remediation (0.2% of home value)

Key Facts for Newton Upper 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: 82% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 9.88.

Newton Upper Falls's Water Providers

While 1 water system appear in federal records for Newton Upper Falls, MA, one provider supplies the majority of residential connections - making it the central point of infrastructure and compliance accountability for most households.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts (population ~3,730), 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 Upper 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 Upper 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 2 (Moderate 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
02464 C 2 0 Newton Water Department (mwra)

All ZIP Codes in Newton Upper Falls

  • 02464 [C] - 2 violations

Data Sources

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

Newton Upper 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 Upper 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 Upper Falls Infrastructure Age

1900
Median Build Year
82%
Built Before 1986
64%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Lead
Likely Pipe Material

With 82% 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

Plumbing risk in older housing is defined by two eras: the pre-1970 period when lead pipes were commonly used for service lines, and the 1970-to-1986 period when lead solder remained standard in copper plumbing until the federal ban. Newton Upper Falls's median build year of 1900 lands in a range where both eras are heavily represented in the housing stock. That creates an elevated aggregate environment for plumbing-related lead exposure - one that city-level water quality averages don't capture, because the risk sits inside individual properties rather than in the distribution system.

1900
Median Year Built
82%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
64%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (64%) 1970–1986 (18%) Post-1986 (18%)

Over half of homes in Newton Upper 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 Upper Falls

Given current Newton Upper Falls valuations, the remediation-to-property-value ratio is low - most homeowners are looking at a proportionally modest share that fits within routine financial planning.

Median Home Value
$899,300
Est. Remediation
$1,600
Remediation as % of home value 0.2%

Remediation costs in Newton Upper Falls are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 60% above the Massachusetts average.

Newton Upper Falls: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

82%
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.

Confirming what arrives at a specific faucet is something utility-side averages cannot do. With 82% of Newton Upper Falls stock built before the lead-solder ban and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory mark, a tap-level kit fits the standard diligence picture.

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

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

3
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$4,594
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
0%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Newton Upper Falls contains 3 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $4,594. 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>$1,600</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 Upper 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 Upper Falls's water.
  3. Check your home's plumbing. With 82% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Newton Upper Falls, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Newton Upper Falls, MA?
Newton Upper 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 Upper Falls have?
Newton Upper Falls water systems have a total of 2 EPA violations. Violations are tracked across 1 ZIP code.
Does Newton Upper Falls water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Newton Upper 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 Upper Falls compare to Massachusetts average?
Newton Upper 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 Upper Falls?
Newton Upper Falls is served by 1 public water system across 1 ZIP code, serving approximately 3,730 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Newton Upper Falls?
Estimated remediation costs in Newton Upper Falls average $1,600 per household, ranging from $800 to $2,600. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
Home → Cities → Massachusetts → Newton Upper Falls, MA

How to cite this page

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

Page version: August 2026.

Get safety alerts for Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Violations found - check filter options Free tool - no phone call required.