Great Meadows, NJ: 29 Violations - Home Safety 61/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Great Meadows: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
The systems supplying Great Meadows vary in performance across NJ benchmarks - most meet minimum federal standards, but documented violations in select areas are on record.
How Great Meadows Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Great Meadows Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 29 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.004 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 49% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,900 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.02 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Great Meadows
Across Great Meadows, NJ, residential water comes from 3 primary utilities rather than a single consolidated provider. Each system operates independently - managing its own distribution infrastructure, rate schedules, and EPA compliance filings. Federal records track 3 water systems in the area, with these top providers accounting for the majority of residential connections.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Great Meadows, New Jersey (population ~3,495), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 27,773 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 Great Meadows: C (61/100)
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
Great Meadows water systems draw from: Groundwater.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 10 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 6 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07838 | C | 29 | 0 | Hackettstown Mua |
All ZIP Codes in Great Meadows
- 07838 [C] - 29 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.
CDC Health Data for Great Meadows
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Great Meadows
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Great Meadows's Housing Stock?
With 49% 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
Lead solder was a standard plumbing material before 1986, when federal law prohibited its use in new residential construction. In Great Meadows, the median build year of 1983 indicates that plumbing age is a material factor in local lead risk - with the pre-1986 share concentrated in specific neighborhoods and building types where older construction remains common.
Most homes in Great Meadows were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Great Meadows: Remediation Cost in Perspective
For most homeowners in Great Meadows, the estimated cost of water and safety remediation represents a proportionally modest share of what properties are worth - placing this area in the lower tier of the remediation share scale.
Remediation costs in Great Meadows are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,900–$4,100 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 15% below the New Jersey average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Great Meadows
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.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Great Meadows have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 49% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Great Meadows
Historical NFIP data for Great Meadows contains 4 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $30,755. 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 <strong>$2,900</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 Great Meadows
- 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 Revised Total Coliform Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Great Meadows's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 49% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Great Meadows, NJ