Current Health-Based Noncompliance MA 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Melrose Water Division (mwra)

EPA ID: MA3178000 ยท 29,938 people served ยท 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Melrose Water Division (mwra) (MA3178000): 1 unresolved EPA violation on record. EPA compliance records for Melrose Water Division (mwra) show 1 unresolved violation - findings that remain open and are tracked at the federal level, covering a service territory of approximately 29,938 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 64
Avg Safety Score
29,938
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
1
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0102 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
1
Contaminants Flagged
$608K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Melrose Water Division (mwra) Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$100,819
Median Household Income
123,596
Service Area Population
17%
Disadvantaged Population
23th
Poverty Percentile
47th
Energy Burden Percentile
83%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Melrose Water Division (mwra) serves a community with a median household income of $100,819 and an estimated 123,596 residents across its service area. Approximately 83% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Melrose Water Division (mwra)'s water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
47th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
77th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 77th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

87 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
3 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 97% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Melrose Water Division (mwra) compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Massachusetts

B 0 violations
Chatham Water Department
30,000 people
B 0 violations
B 0 violations
Wellesley Water Division
29,550 people
C 1 violation
Milford Water Department
30,379 people
D 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Lead Pipe Replacement Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance Water Filtration
Lead Pipe Replacement $1,560
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
Water Filtration $100
Total Estimated Cost $4,060

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $4,060 (one-time) vs. $5,000 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Melrose Water Division (mwra) (EPA ID: MA3178000) is a community water system in Massachusetts that serves approximately 29,938 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (64/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 3 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

1 current health-based noncompliance record in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 0 resolved, 0 archived, 1 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
November 1, 2021 Stage 1 DBP Rule Health-based Addressed (current)

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 Yes

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0102 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by MA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Melrose Water Division (mwra) (MA3178000) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Melrose Water Division (mwra) water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 1 current health-based noncompliance record for Melrose Water Division (mwra). Review the utility's current notices and EPA record. This system-level compliance history cannot determine conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Melrose Water Division (mwra) serve?

Melrose Water Division (mwra) serves approximately 29,938 people across 3 ZIP codes in Massachusetts.

Where does Melrose Water Division (mwra) get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
116

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Melrose Water Division (mwra) safe to drink?
Melrose Water Division (mwra) has a C safety grade based on 1 recorded violation. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Melrose Water Division (mwra)'s water?
Detected contaminants include Stage 1 DBP Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Melrose Water Division (mwra) serve?
Melrose Water Division (mwra) serves approximately 29,938 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Melrose Water Division (mwra)'s water source?
Melrose Water Division (mwra) draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Melrose Water Division (mwra)'s water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0102 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Melrose Water Division (mwra)'s service area?
The Melrose Water Division (mwra) service area has a median household income of $100,819. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Melrose Water Division (mwra) get its water?
Melrose Water Division (mwra)'s water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Melrose Water Division (mwra) (MA): 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma3178000/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ma3178000,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Melrose Water Division (mwra) (MA): 1 Health Violation}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ma3178000/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Melrose Water Division (mwra) (EPA ID: MA3178000) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems Massachusetts Melrose Water Division (mwra)

Get safety alerts for Melrose Water Division (mwra), Massachusetts

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Violations found - check filter options Free tool - no phone call required.