What was found in Chester'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 | 1000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 3080 µg/L — POTTERSVILLE WATER DISTRICT · 315 people · 2019 | 10/11 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1580 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: GORE MOUNTAIN TERRACE · 45 people · 2019 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 93.25 µg/L 117% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2019 | 10/11 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 26.9 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 79.17 µg/L — SURREY MEADOW W.D. · 784 people · 2019 | 10/11 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 61.2 µg/L 102% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 14.07 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CHESTERTOWN WATER DISTRICT · 885 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 7.3875 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CHESTERTOWN WATER DISTRICT · 885 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 7.186 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: POTTERSVILLE WATER DISTRICT · 315 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 6.7 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: WALTON LAKE ESTATES W.D. · 768 people · 2019 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 6.67 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CHESTERTOWN WATER DISTRICT · 885 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 6.473 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: POTTERSVILLE WATER DISTRICT · 315 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 3.0098 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 6.429 µg/L — SURREY MEADOW W.D. · 784 people · 2017 | 5/11 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 2.2 pCi/L 15% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 3.64 pCi/L — SUGAR LOAF HILLS · 591 people · 2014 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.9 µg/L 2.9% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: SURREY MEADOW W.D. · 784 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.4 µg/L 4.8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2018 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.08 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: LAKE HILL FARMS WATER DISTRICT · 1,868 people · 2019 | 3/11 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 2 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Highest in the city: CHESTERTOWN WATER DISTRICT · 885 people · 2012 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.8085 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GORE MOUNTAIN TERRACE · 45 people · 2019 | 3/11 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 1.643 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CHESTERTOWN WATER DISTRICT · 885 people · 2019 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GORE MOUNTAIN TERRACE · 45 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.3255 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CHESTERTOWN WATER DISTRICT · 885 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.08 pCi/L 22% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2015 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0189 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2023 | 1/11 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0120 mg/L 80% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0130 mg/L — FIELD CREST · 147 people · 2005 | 11/11 | LCR |
| PFOA | 0.0051 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2023 | 1/11 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0049 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2023 | 1/11 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0036 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CHESTER VILLAGE · 3,448 people · 2023 | 1/11 | UCMR-5 |
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 Chester
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CHESTER VILLAGE | 3,448 |
| LAKE HILL FARMS WATER DISTRICT | 1,868 |
| CHESTERTOWN WATER DISTRICT | 885 |
| SURREY MEADOW W.D. | 784 |
| WALTON LAKE ESTATES W.D. | 768 |
| SUGAR LOAF HILLS | 591 |
| POTTERSVILLE WATER DISTRICT | 315 |
| BELLVALE COMMUNITY | 180 |
| KING TRACT | 150 |
| FIELD CREST | 147 |
| GORE MOUNTAIN TERRACE | 45 |
Frequently asked questions about Chester tap water
Is Chester tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Chester. 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 Chester?
11 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Chester, New York to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Chester's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Chester include Nitrate, Fluoride, TTHM, Barium, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). 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.