Home hazard report for 01961 — Peabody, MA
ZIP 01961 is served by Peabody Water Dept. (as listed by the state): no health-based violations since 2016, latest lead result 4.2 ppb, PFAS 7 ppt. Essex is in EPA radon zone 1.
No health-based violations reported since 2016.
90th-percentile lead in the latest round (Jan 2025). Lead comes mostly from household plumbing and service lines, so individual homes can be higher.
Highest PFOA or PFOS result in EPA’s 2023–2025 testing was at or above 4.0 ppt, EPA’s 2024 maximum contaminant level for each. 5 PFAS compounds detected.
Predicted average indoor radon above 4 pCi/L — EPA’s action level. Test your home.
The nearest active Superfund site is 6.2 miles away.
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Where ZIP 01961 is
blue: utility service area · scroll or pinch to zoomDrinking water: Peabody Water Dept.
Health-based violations
No health-based violations reported since 2016.
Lead
90th-percentile lead per sampling round (90% of the homes sampled were at or below this level). Black line: EPA’s 15 ppb action level; under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements the action level becomes 10 ppb from 2027.
PFAS (“forever chemicals”)
| Compound | Highest result | Samples with detection | EPA limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 7 ppt | 8 of 12 | 4 ppt MCL |
| PFBA | 6.4 ppt | 3 of 12 | — |
| PFPeA | 4.9 ppt | 8 of 12 | — |
| PFHxA | 4.8 ppt | 8 of 12 | — |
| PFBS | 3.2 ppt | 2 of 12 | — |
| PFDA | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| PFHpA | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| PFHxS | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| PFNA | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | not detected | 0 of 12 | — |
| PFOS | not detected | 0 of 12 | 4 ppt MCL |
EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5), samples 2023–2025; ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). The 4.0 ppt maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS were set by EPA in 2024; water systems have until the end of the decade to comply.
Radon in Essex
EPA radon zone 1 — highest potential. Predicted average indoor radon above 4 pCi/L — EPA’s action level. Test your home.
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas from soil and rock, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above and considering it from 2 pCi/L. A short-term test kit costs about $15–30. How radon zones work →
Superfund sites nearby
| Site | Status | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Creese & Cook Tannery (Former) Danvers, Massachusetts · EPA ID MAD001031574 | Active (final NPL) | 6.2 mi |
| Salem Acres Salem, Massachusetts · EPA ID MAD980525240 | Cleaned up & deleted | 9.5 mi |
EPA Superfund National Priorities List (NPL): the country’s most serious known hazardous-waste sites, each with an EPA cleanup record (linked). Distance is measured from the ZIP center to the site’s reference point; being near a site does not by itself mean exposure — EPA site pages describe what was found and how it is being cleaned up.
What this is — and isn’t. These are records your water utility and state reported to the EPA, and the EPA’s radon map for your county. They describe the system and the area, not the water from your own tap or the air in your home. For that, read your utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report and test: lead and radon tests are inexpensive.
Questions about 01961
Who supplies drinking water to ZIP 01961?
Peabody Water Dept. (EPA ID MA3229000), a surface water (rivers, lakes) system serving about 54,481 people, listed by the state as serving this ZIP code.
Is there lead in Peabody, MA tap water?
The utility’s latest 90th-percentile lead result (Jan 2025) was 4.2 ppb; EPA’s action level is 15 ppb, falling to 10 ppb from 2027. Lead mostly comes from service lines and home plumbing, so the only way to know your tap is to test it.
Does Peabody, MA water have PFAS?
Highest PFOA or PFOS result in EPA’s 2023–2025 testing was at or above 4.0 ppt, EPA’s 2024 maximum contaminant level for each. 5 PFAS compounds detected.
Has the water system in 01961 had violations?
No health-based violations reported since 2016.
Are there Superfund sites near 01961?
The nearest active Superfund site is 6.2 miles away. Sites within 10 miles: Creese & Cook Tannery (Former) (6.2 mi, Active (final NPL)); Salem Acres (9.5 mi, Cleaned up & deleted).
Is radon a problem in Essex?
Essex is in EPA radon zone 1 (highest potential). Predicted average indoor radon above 4 pCi/L — EPA’s action level. Test your home.