From Prison Colony to Health Crisis: How Norfolk’s Historic Past Left a Legacy of Lead Contamination in Today’s Homes
Norfolk, Massachusetts carries a unique history that few residents fully understand. Founded in 1927 as the Norfolk Prison Colony, this groundbreaking “model prison community” was built by inmates themselves using hand-picked prisoners from the overcrowded Charlestown State Prison. Working on an honor system without restraints, the inmates completed construction in August 1932, creating not just a prison but also establishing much of the area’s early infrastructure, including water service lines that served on a prison farm where they raised produce and learned trades.
What many Norfolk homeowners don’t realize is that this historic construction period coincided with widespread use of lead pipes in water systems. Many of the lead pipes in Massachusetts were installed nearly a century ago, precisely during the era when Norfolk’s prison colony was being built and the surrounding community was developing its water infrastructure.
The Hidden Danger Flowing Through Norfolk Homes
Lead can leach into tap water if the service line that connects your home to the water mains in the street is made of lead, and lead can get into water through a lead service line or household plumbing. Despite the grave dangers of lead, which can cause lifelong health problems, especially for children, there are as many as 10 million lead service lines in the United States, with an estimated 220,000 in Massachusetts.
Lead is a metal that, when ingested, is a health hazard that can cause brain and nervous system damage, hearing and speech problems, learning and behavioral problems, and slowed growth and development. It is especially harmful to infants, children, and pregnant women. Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning disabilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.
New Federal Requirements Expose the Scope of the Problem
These letters are a requirement under a new federal rule that sets a stricter standard for lead and aims to finally root out the harmful contaminant in the coming years. Under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), which are effective October 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required all public water systems to compile a drinking water service line inventory.
Some Massachusetts residents received drinking water notices in recent weeks alerting them that the water pipes servicing their homes may contain lead. They’re sending out these letters after an initial inventory to see who may have lead pipes in their system. According to the EPA and local officials, it is common for some communities to have a number of “unknown” types of water service lines, meaning it’s unclear if a home or household has lead pipes. That’s why we have this new regulation that went into effect: because we want water systems to make these identifications and start a path forward to understanding whether there is lead or not.
Identifying and Addressing Lead Service Lines
Homeowners can take steps to identify potential lead hazards in their water systems. EPA indicates that the best way to determine if your service line is made of lead is by either hiring a licensed plumber to inspect the line or by contacting the plumbing contractor who installed the line. A licensed plumber can at the same time check to see if your home’s plumbing contains lead solder, lead pipes, or pipe fittings that contain lead.
For Norfolk residents concerned about their water quality and plumbing systems, consulting with a qualified Plumber in Norfolk, MA can provide essential insights into your home’s water service lines and overall plumbing health. Professional assessment is particularly important given the area’s historic construction period and potential for legacy lead infrastructure.
Professional Solutions from Trusted Local Experts
For over 30 years, families across Massachusetts have trusted Dempsey Energy to keep their homes running efficiently and comfortably. Dempsey Energy, a family-operated company, began in 1992. Since 2001, we’ve provided HVAC and plumbing services. We value community and family, aiming for trust and transparency. With fast, same-day repairs, fully stocked trucks, and 24/7 emergency services, we’re here when you need us most—ensuring your home stays safe, comfortable, and stress-free.
Our team, from phone operators to technicians, works together to serve you. We offer upfront pricing and free estimates, avoiding hidden costs. Dempsey Energy employs NATE-certified technicians. Our goal is to provide quality service that homeowners in Bristol County can trust.
Taking Action to Protect Your Family
Until you are able to have your lead service line fully replaced, there are steps you can take to protect your family from lead in drinking water. Run your water before drinking or cooking. The longer water sits in pipes, the more lead it may contain. When water has not been used for 6 hours or more, running water until it becomes as cold as possible can help ensure you are not using water that has been sitting in the pipes.
Do not to cook with, drink, or prepare baby formula using water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve more lead more quickly than cold water. If you need hot water, draw water from the cold tap and heat it on the stove.
The best way to find out if your household tap water contains lead is to get your water tested by a MassDEP-certified lab. Certified labs test water at an affordable cost. The only way to determine the level of lead in your tap water is to have it tested for lead by a state certified laboratory. The cost to test the water is usually between $15 and $50.
The Path Forward
Norfolk’s transformation from a progressive prison colony to a thriving residential community represents remarkable progress, but the legacy infrastructure from that era requires modern attention. There is no safe amount of lead exposure, but thousands of households in the Commonwealth still get their water delivered via aging lead pipes.
Understanding your home’s water service line materials, working with qualified professionals for assessment and replacement, and taking immediate protective measures can help ensure your family’s safety while comprehensive lead service line replacement programs continue across Massachusetts. The historic Norfolk Prison Colony may be long gone, but its infrastructure legacy reminds us that protecting our homes requires both understanding our past and taking action for our future.