What was found in New York'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 | 375.45 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1180 µg/L — CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 372.15 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 428 µg/L — CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 370 µg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 59.9 µg/L 75% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 60.45 µg/L — CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 60 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 54 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 53 µg/L 88% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 46.8 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 32 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 26.114 pCi/L 174% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 24 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 15.93 pCi/L 319% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 6.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.65 µg/L — CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.94 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.65 µg/L — CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 5.815 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.97 µg/L — CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 5 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2015 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.27 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 3.97995 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.01 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 3 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.37 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.3 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 1 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS · 300 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0100 mg/L 67% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM · 8,271,000 people · 2024 | 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 New York
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM | 8,271,000 |
| CEDAR VALLEY WATERWORKS | 300 |
Frequently asked questions about New York tap water
Is New York tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving New York. 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 New York?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for New York, New York to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in New York's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in New York include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, TTHM, Barium. 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.