Ellsworth, ME: 5 Health Violations - Home Safety 60/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Ellsworth: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (5 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Recent monitoring in Ellsworth shows middle-tier safety for ME - some systems are clean; others have logged EPA violations.
How Ellsworth Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Ellsworth Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 12 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.004 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 53% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.24 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Ellsworth
A single utility carries the primary residential water load in Ellsworth, ME - the dominant provider across 1 federally tracked system.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Ellsworth, Maine, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 14,695 people. 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. 5 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Ellsworth: C (60/100)
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
Ellsworth water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0040 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 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 6 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04605 | C | 12 | 5 | Ellsworth Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Ellsworth
- 04605 [C] - 12 violations ⚠
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.
Health Outcomes in Ellsworth
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Ellsworth Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Ellsworth
With 53% 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
Two dates define the high-risk tiers of residential plumbing from a lead standpoint: 1970, before which lead pipes were commonly installed for service connections, and 1986, before which lead solder was standard in copper plumbing. A median build year of 1986 places Ellsworth's housing distribution well within that older risk zone. The bar chart above breaks down how much of the stock falls into each era - and the pre-1986 share alone represents more than half the residential inventory, making plumbing-era risk a defining characteristic of the local water safety picture.
Over half of homes in Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth Homeowners
Given current Ellsworth property values, the remediation share falls in the moderate tier - an indicator that the household financial perspective here calls for advance planning rather than dismissal, with most homeowners positioned to address documented issues through deliberate budgeting rather than needing to treat remediation as a significant equity event or financial emergency.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Ellsworth. The estimated $2,300–$5,500 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 11% below the Maine average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Ellsworth
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.
Wherever 53% of local housing was built before solder rules changed - as is the case in Ellsworth - a faucet-level sample closes the gap that aggregate utility data cannot.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Ellsworth
Historical NFIP data for Ellsworth contains 8 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $47,212. 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 <strong>$3,600</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 Ellsworth
- 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.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Ellsworth's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 53% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Ellsworth, ME