What was found in Cairo'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 480 µg/L 4.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CAIRO WATER DISTRICT · 1,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3910 µg/L — GLENWOOD TOWNHOUSES · 76 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 160 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CAIRO WATER DISTRICT · 1,400 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1449.5 µg/L — CREEKSIDE APARTMENTS · 37 people · 2018 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 370 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY ESTATES (IN CAIRO) · 201 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 269.8 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CAIRO WATER DISTRICT · 1,400 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 341.1 µg/L — TF CAIRO APARTMENTS · 25 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 18.955 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CAIRO WATER DISTRICT · 1,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 129.8 µg/L — WOODLANDS AT CAIRO APTS · 90 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 14.01 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CAIRO WATER DISTRICT · 1,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 109.7 µg/L — WOODLANDS AT CAIRO APTS · 90 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 36 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WOODLANDS AT CAIRO APTS · 90 people · 2013 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 30.54 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WOODLANDS AT CAIRO APTS · 90 people · 2013 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 11.21 µg/L 112% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: CAIRO WATER DISTRICT · 1,400 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 23 µg/L — WOODLANDS AT CAIRO APTS · 90 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 13 µg/L 6.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: WOODLANDS AT CAIRO APTS · 90 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 7.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WOODLANDS AT CAIRO APTS · 90 people · 2013 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 5.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAIRO WATER DISTRICT · 1,400 people · 2014 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 5.19 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GLENWOOD TOWNHOUSES · 76 people · 2014 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAIRO WATER DISTRICT · 1,400 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 4.5 µg/L — WOODLAND APTS AT CAIRO NORTH · 38 people · 2013 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 4.25 µg/L 85% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY ESTATES (IN CAIRO) · 201 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 3.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAIRO WATER DISTRICT · 1,400 people · 2014 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 2.26 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY ESTATES (IN CAIRO) · 201 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 1.835 µg/L 2.6% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY ESTATES (IN CAIRO) · 201 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.59 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GLENWOOD TOWNHOUSES · 76 people · 2014 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 1 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: WOODLANDS AT CAIRO APTS · 90 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1 pCi/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: CAIRO WATER DISTRICT · 1,400 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 1 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY ESTATES (IN CAIRO) · 201 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0030 mg/L 20% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CAIRO WATER DISTRICT · 1,400 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0660 mg/L — WOODLANDS AT CAIRO APTS · 90 people · 2025 | 7/7 | 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 Cairo
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CAIRO WATER DISTRICT | 1,400 |
| COUNTRY ESTATES (IN CAIRO) | 201 |
| WOODLANDS AT CAIRO APTS | 90 |
| GLENWOOD TOWNHOUSES | 76 |
| WOODLAND APTS AT CAIRO NORTH | 38 |
| CREEKSIDE APARTMENTS | 37 |
| TF CAIRO APARTMENTS | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Cairo tap water
Is Cairo tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Cairo. 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 Cairo?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Cairo, New York to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Cairo's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Cairo include Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, Barium, TTHM. 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.