Franklin, ME: 4 Violations - Home Safety 64/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Franklin: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
While Franklin avoids ME's lowest safety tiers, a portion of its water systems have logged documented violations.
How Franklin Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Franklin Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 4 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0036 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 55% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,300 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.24 - above typical levels.
Franklin's Water Providers
Federal records track 1 water system in Franklin, ME, and a single provider handles the dominant share of residential connections while carrying primary responsibility for EPA compliance.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Franklin, Maine, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 2,218 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Franklin: C (64/100)
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
Franklin water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0036 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04634 | C | 4 | 0 | Franklin Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Franklin
- 04634 [C] - 4 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.
Franklin Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Franklin's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Franklin Infrastructure Age
With 55% 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 Franklin's housing stock is one of deep historical layering - a median build year of 1986 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.
Over half of homes in Franklin 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Franklin
Given current Franklin valuations, the remediation-to-property-value ratio is low - most homeowners are looking at a proportionally modest share that fits within routine financial planning.
Remediation costs in Franklin are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,400–$3,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 9% below the Maine average.
Franklin: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
55% - that captures the slice of Franklin housing dating from before the federal ban on solder containing lead. It pairs with aggregate utility readings that either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L, the benchmark set under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. Together, the two figures shift one-home reads into a standard household-level confirmation, particularly for families with kids. A certified lead-removal filter is available through retailer-verified channels if a kit returns results that warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
What You Can Do in Franklin
- 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 Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Franklin's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 55% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Franklin, ME