Montvale, NJ Home Safety: Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Montvale: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Across water systems in Montvale, safety results are uneven - a portion carry active or recent violations, while others meet federal standards without incident, placing the city in the middle tier for NJ.
How Montvale Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Montvale Water
- Average lead level: 0.0024 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 70% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.21.
Who Supplies Your Water in Montvale
Consolidated water delivery characterizes Montvale, NJ: among 1 system in federal records, one utility holds the dominant service position - carrying the rate-setting authority, the infrastructure obligations, and the EPA reporting burden for most residential addresses.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Montvale, New Jersey, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 8,625 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Montvale: C (67/100)
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
Montvale water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0024 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 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07645 | C | Veolia Water New Jersey Montvale Pd95 | 654 |
All ZIP Codes in Montvale
- 07645 [C]
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 Montvale
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
Housing & Infrastructure in Montvale
With 70% 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 1961 places Montvale'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 Montvale 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 Montvale Homeowners
Within the Montvale market, estimated remediation claims a small portion of typical property equity - the financial burden is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Montvale are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$3,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 42% above the New Jersey average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Montvale
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 70% of local housing was built before solder rules changed - as is the case in Montvale - 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 Montvale
Historical NFIP data for Montvale contains 18 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $6,838. 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>$2,200</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 Montvale
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 70% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Montvale, NJ