What was found in Rochester'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 | 736 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1889 µg/L — WILLBE MHP · 45 people · 2018 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 390 µg/L 3.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 910 µg/L — SYLVAN GLADES W.C. · 89 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 23 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 440.85 µg/L — ZOLOTA OSIN INC · 50 people · 2017 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 390 µg/L 3.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019 | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 70.25 µg/L 88% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 52.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 53 µg/L — ROCHESTER CITY · 210,000 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 22 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 42 µg/L — ROCHESTER CITY · 210,000 people · 2019 | 9/10 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21 µg/L — ROCHESTER CITY · 210,000 people · 2019 | 7/10 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 20 µg/L — ROCHESTER CITY · 210,000 people · 2019 | 6/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019 | 9/10 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 12.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2024 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12 µg/L — STREAMSIDE ESTATES · 67 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.595 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.24 µg/L — ROCHESTER CITY · 210,000 people · 2019 | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.8 µg/L — ROCHESTER CITY · 210,000 people · 2019 | 7/10 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 5.2 pCi/L 104% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: HILLSIDE MOBILE HOME PARK · 42 people · 2017 | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.87 µg/L — WILLBE MHP · 45 people · 2018 | 6/10 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.8 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: WILLBE MHP · 45 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.5 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: WILLBE MHP · 45 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.6 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 2.21 µg/L 7.4% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: ZOLOTA OSIN INC · 50 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 2.2 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: STREAMSIDE ESTATES · 67 people · 2019 | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1.89 pCi/L 13% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: ZOLOTA OSIN INC · 50 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.9000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: ZOLOTA OSIN INC · 50 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.8000 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: LUCAS ESTATES WATER COMPANY · 70 people · 2017 | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.3000 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: ROCHESTER CITY · 210,000 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.0732 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0040 mg/L 27% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: MCWA · 525,262 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0190 mg/L — SYLVAN GLADES W.C. · 89 people · 2025 | 10/10 | 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 Rochester
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| MCWA | 525,262 |
| ROCHESTER CITY | 210,000 |
| HUDSON VALLEY RESORT & SPA | 265 |
| SYLVAN GLADES W.C. | 89 |
| LUCAS ESTATES WATER COMPANY | 70 |
| STREAMSIDE ESTATES | 67 |
| ZOLOTA OSIN INC | 50 |
| WILLBE MHP | 45 |
| HILLSIDE MOBILE HOME PARK | 42 |
| HIDDEN FOREST ESTATES MHP | 40 |
Frequently asked questions about Rochester tap water
Is Rochester tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Rochester. 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 Rochester?
10 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Rochester, New York to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Rochester's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Rochester include Fluoride, Nitrate, Barium, Nitrate-Nitrite, 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.