Somerville, MA: 2 Health Violations - Home Safety 66/100
3 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Somerville: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
For residents of Somerville, MA, a C is a prompt to look up the report for their own ZIP code rather than a verdict on their tap.
How Somerville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Somerville Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0054 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 86% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $300 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 9.88.
Somerville's Water Providers
Federal records list 2 water systems tied to Somerville, MA. Of those, 2 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Somerville, Massachusetts (population ~78,099), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 142,745 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 3 ZIP codes.
1 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (33%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Somerville: C (66/100)
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
Somerville water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0054 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
3 of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02145 | C | 2 | 2 | Somerville Water Department (mwra) |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02143 | C | Somerville Water Department (mwra) | 81,045 |
| 02144 | C | Somerville Water Department (mwra) | 81,045 |
All ZIP Codes in Somerville
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.
Somerville Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Somerville's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Somerville Infrastructure Age
With 86% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Somerville has a median build year of 1901; houses completed ahead of 1986 can hold lead-bearing solder or fittings.
Over half of homes in Somerville were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. 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 Somerville
How large is the remediation estimate next to home prices in Somerville? 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 Somerville can be compared with local home values. The $150–$600 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 65% above the Massachusetts average.
Somerville: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Somerville: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Somerville contains 33 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $30,643. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 33% 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 $300 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 Somerville
- 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 Lead and Copper Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Somerville: 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. With 86% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Somerville, MA