Shrewsbury, MA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 41/100
2 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Shrewsbury: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
Because the grade blends several data sources, a D or F for Shrewsbury, MA does not by itself say which one drove it; the ZIP-level reports show the underlying data.
How Shrewsbury Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Shrewsbury Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 28 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0083 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.17.
Water Systems Serving Shrewsbury
When a city is linked to 2 water systems, as Shrewsbury, MA is in federal records, water in one neighborhood may come from a different system than in another. The 2 systems with the largest reported populations are shown below, and their compliance records are kept separately, so a violation logged for one does not describe the others.
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 38,440 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 2 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 Shrewsbury: D (41/100)
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
Shrewsbury water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0083 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
2 of 2 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tetrachloroethylene | Organic | 4 | 1 |
| Groundwater Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01545 | D | 28 | 0 | Shrewsbury Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Shrewsbury
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.
CDC Health Data for Shrewsbury
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
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Shrewsbury
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Shrewsbury: Remediation Cost in Perspective
How large is the remediation estimate next to home prices in Shrewsbury? Small in relative terms: it amounts to 1% of the median value or less, although the dollar figure below is still an estimate and actual costs vary by property and contractor.
Estimated remediation costs in Shrewsbury can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 1% below the Massachusetts average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Shrewsbury
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.
Available area-level lead records for Shrewsbury do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Shrewsbury
Historical NFIP data for Shrewsbury contains 13 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $3,142. 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 $500 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 Shrewsbury
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Tetrachloroethylene, listed in the water-quality records for Shrewsbury: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Shrewsbury, MA