CITY REPORT MA

South Grafton, MA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 37/100

1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for South Grafton: F.

Lowest grade in federal records; check your home directly.

Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →

Treat the D-F grade for South Grafton, MA as a summary of available data, not a measurement at your faucet.

How South Grafton Compares

South Grafton37/100
Massachusetts avg70/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
3
Water Systems
1
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
F · 37
Avg Safety Score
Zone 1
County Radon Potential (High)
$443K
Median Home Value
$500
Est. Remediation (0.1% of home value)

South Grafton Water: The Quick Version

  • Your city's water systems recorded 32 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0083 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 55% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.17.

Water Systems Serving South Grafton

Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 3 shown below do not apply to the others among the 3 tied to South Grafton, MA.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in South Grafton, Massachusetts (population ~4,914), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 16,960 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 South Grafton: F (37/100)

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

South Grafton water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

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

1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is 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 8 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
01560 F 32 0 South Grafton Water District

All ZIP Codes in South Grafton

  • 01560 [F] - 32 violations

Data Sources

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

CDC Health Data for South Grafton

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). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 12.1% ↑
Diabetes 10.4% ↓
Mental Health 17.2% ↑

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

Key Contaminants Detected in South Grafton

Lead and Copper Rule 8 violations
Treatment Technique
Developmental delays in children, kidney damage
Groundwater Rule 4 violations
Treatment Technique
Nitrate 2 violations
Inorganic · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 10 mg/L
Blue baby syndrome in infants

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

How Old Is South Grafton's Housing Stock?

1972
Median Build Year
55%
Built Before 1986
47%
Built Before 1970
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 55% 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

If you live in one of the pre-1986 homes in South Grafton, a certified lab test for lead is the direct way to learn what your tap delivers; the median build year of 1972 is only context.

1972
Median Year Built
55%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
47%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (47%) 1970–1986 (8%) Post-1986 (45%)

Over half of homes in South Grafton 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.

South Grafton: Remediation Cost in Perspective

Relative to home values, South Grafton remediation estimates run low.

Median Home Value
$442,900
Est. Remediation
$500
Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Estimated remediation costs in South Grafton 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 21% below the Massachusetts average.

Protecting Children from Lead in South Grafton

55%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0083
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

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.

Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for South Grafton

9
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$16,434
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
100%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for South Grafton contains 9 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $16,434. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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 South Grafton

  1. 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.
  2. Install a certified water filter. For Lead and Copper Rule, listed in the water-quality records for South Grafton: 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.
  3. Check your home's plumbing. With 55% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
  4. 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 South Grafton, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for South Grafton, MA?
South Grafton has an average Home Safety Score of 37/100 (Grade F) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. 32 violations appear in EPA records for water systems mapped to these ZIP codes. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving South Grafton?
EPA records list 32 EPA violations for South Grafton water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 1 mapped ZIP code.
Does South Grafton water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of South Grafton is 0.0083 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does South Grafton compare to Massachusetts average?
South Grafton has an average Home Safety Score of 37/100, which is below the Massachusetts state average of 70/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve South Grafton?
Our records map 3 water systems to 1 ZIP code in South Grafton. The related population figure in our data is approximately 4,914 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in South Grafton?
Estimated remediation cost per household in South Grafton: $500; modeled range $300 to $800. Estimated costs may include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, or flood protection where applicable.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). South Grafton, MA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 37/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/south-grafton/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ma-south-grafton,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{South Grafton, MA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 37/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ma/south-grafton/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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