CITY REPORT MA

Petersham, MA Water - Home Safety Score unavailable

1 ZIP code · 0 water systems · Updated

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
0
Water Systems
N/A
ZIPs with Violations
Zone 1
Radon Risk (High)
$375K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Est. Remediation (0.3% of home value)

What You Should Know About Petersham Water

  • Homes built before 1986: 71% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 12.17 - above typical levels.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Petersham, Massachusetts, covering 0 community water system serving approximately 1,173 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 0 of 1 ZIP codes.

EPA water-system violation data is unavailable in the dataset used for this page for the tracked ZIP codes in Petersham.

Lead & Copper

  • Lead data: not yet available for Petersham
  • Lead action-level status: not available

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

All ZIP Codes in Petersham

Data Sources

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

Health Outcomes in Petersham

12.1%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
10.4%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
17.2%
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 12.1% ↑
Diabetes 10.4% ↓
Mental Health 17.2% ↑

Vertical line = national average. Above national · Below national

Housing & Infrastructure in Petersham

1966
Median Build Year
71%
Built Before 1986
48%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 71% 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

The character of Petersham's housing stock is one of deep historical layering - a median build year of 1966 signals a city built largely before the plumbing era changes of 1986 and 1970. Lead-soldered copper joints and, in the oldest properties, lead service lines are commonly present in this inventory. That context shapes what individual water testing may reveal, particularly in neighborhoods where the oldest housing is concentrated.

1966
Median Year Built
71%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
48%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (48%) 1970–1986 (23%) Post-1986 (29%)

Over half of homes in Petersham 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 Petersham Homeowners

Given current Petersham 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
$375,000
Est. Remediation
$1,200
Remediation as % of home value 0.3%

Remediation costs in Petersham are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 33% below the Massachusetts average.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Petersham

71%
Homes Built Before 1986

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 71% of Petersham 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to fix water issues in Petersham?
Estimated remediation costs in Petersham average $1,200 per household, ranging from $800 to $1,500. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
HomeCitiesMassachusetts → Petersham, MA

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Petersham, MA Water - Home Safety Score unavailable. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/petersham/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ma-petersham,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Petersham, MA Water - Home Safety Score unavailable}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/petersham/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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