What was found in Buffalo's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 911.45 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 927 µg/L — BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY · 276,000 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 375 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 333.5 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY · 276,000 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 69.475 µg/L 87% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 45.135 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 38.451 µg/L 64% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 24.75 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 21 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 18.285 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 17.44 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 15 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Highest in the city: BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY · 276,000 people · 2014 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.778 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 7.405 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.3 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.1 µg/L — BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY · 276,000 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4.89 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.958 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.235 pCi/L 25% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | 1.185 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.1 µg/L 2.2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.066 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.6440 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.0700 µg/L 2.3% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.0658 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.0300 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.0200 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0060 mg/L 40% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ECWA DIRECT · 313,380 people · 2025 | 2/2 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Buffalo
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ECWA DIRECT | 313,380 |
| BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY | 276,000 |
Frequently asked questions about Buffalo tap water
Is Buffalo tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Buffalo. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Buffalo?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Buffalo, New York to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Buffalo's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Buffalo include Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, TTHM, Chloroform. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.