Home hazard report for 05501 — Andover, MA
ZIP 05501 is served by Andover Water Dept: 2 violations since 2016, latest lead result 0 ppb, PFAS 1 detected. Essex is in EPA radon zone 1.
Health-based violations since 2016: Lead and Copper Rule. 1 is still listed as unresolved in EPA records.
90th-percentile lead in the latest round (Jan 2025). Lead comes mostly from household plumbing and service lines, so individual homes can be higher.
PFAS were detected, with PFOA and PFOS below 4.0 ppt (highest not detected).
Predicted average indoor radon above 4 pCi/L — EPA’s action level. Test your home.
The nearest active Superfund site is 3.4 miles away.
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Where ZIP 05501 is
blue: utility service area · scroll or pinch to zoomDrinking water: Andover Water Dept
Health-based violations
| Contaminant or rule | Health-based violations since 2016 |
|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | 2 |
A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its legal limit (MCL) or a required treatment technique was not met, as reported by the state to EPA’s SDWIS. 1 still listed as unresolved (“unaddressed” or “addressed” but not yet returned to compliance); the latest began Jan 2022.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFPeA | 4 ppt | 1 of 4 | — |
| PFDA | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
| PFBA | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
| PFOA | not detected | 0 of 4 | 4 ppt MCL |
| PFHxA | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
| PFNA | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
| PFHxS | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
| PFHpA | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
| PFBS | not detected | 0 of 4 | — |
| PFOS | not detected | 0 of 4 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sutton Brook Disposal Area Tewksbury, Massachusetts · EPA ID MAD980520696 | Active (final NPL) | 3.4 mi |
| Iron Horse Park Billerica, Massachusetts · EPA ID MAD051787323 | Active (final NPL) | 6.0 mi |
| Silresim Chemical Corp. Lowell, Massachusetts · EPA ID MAD000192393 | Active (final NPL) | 6.7 mi |
| Olin Chemical Wilmington, Massachusetts · EPA ID MAD001403104 | Active (final NPL) | 8.4 mi |
| Industri-Plex Woburn, Massachusetts · EPA ID MAD076580950 | Active (final NPL) | 9.3 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 05501
Who supplies drinking water to ZIP 05501?
Andover Water Dept (EPA ID MA3009000), a surface water (rivers, lakes) system serving about 36,569 people.
Is there lead in Andover, MA tap water?
The utility’s latest 90th-percentile lead result (Jan 2025) was 0 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 Andover, MA water have PFAS?
PFAS were detected, with PFOA and PFOS below 4.0 ppt (highest not detected).
Has the water system in 05501 had violations?
Health-based violations since 2016: Lead and Copper Rule. 1 is still listed as unresolved in EPA records.
Are there Superfund sites near 05501?
The nearest active Superfund site is 3.4 miles away. Sites within 10 miles: Sutton Brook Disposal Area (3.4 mi, Active (final NPL)); Iron Horse Park (6.0 mi, Active (final NPL)); Silresim Chemical Corp. (6.7 mi, Active (final NPL)).
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.