What was found in Ulster'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 | 30 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2500 µg/L — HALCYON PARK WATER DISTRICT · 402 people · 2019 | 7/16 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 120 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1595 µg/L — SKYTOP APARTMENTS · 168 people · 2017 | 4/16 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 72.85 µg/L 3.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 968.6 µg/L — PALMER CENTER UGARC · 30 people · 2018 | 10/16 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 70.32 µg/L 88% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 105.65 µg/L — GLENERIE WATER DISTRICT · 410 people · 2019 | 16/16 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 53.36 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 76.95 µg/L — GLENERIE WATER DISTRICT · 410 people · 2019 | 14/16 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 61.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: KINGSVALE WATER CO · 600 people · 2023 | 1/16 | UCMR-5 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 49.92 µg/L 83% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2019 | 15/16 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 23.77 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2019 | 13/16 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 21.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.55 µg/L — GLENERIE WATER DISTRICT · 410 people · 2019 | 15/16 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 16.475 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.575 µg/L — GLENERIE WATER DISTRICT · 410 people · 2019 | 13/16 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 18.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.04 µg/L — GLENERIE WATER DISTRICT · 410 people · 2019 | 3/16 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 19.205 µg/L — GLENERIE WATER DISTRICT · 410 people · 2019 | 12/16 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 8.2 µg/L 8.2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2018 | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 6.12 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SKYTOP APARTMENTS · 168 people · 2018 | 7/16 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.08 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.12 µg/L — GLENERIE WATER DISTRICT · 410 people · 2019 | 6/16 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 4.6 pCi/L 92% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: PALMER CENTER UGARC · 30 people · 2018 | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 4.04 pCi/L 27% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: KINGSVALE WATER CO · 600 people · 2015 | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 0.6000 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 3.9 µg/L — HALCYON PARK WATER DISTRICT · 402 people · 2018 | 3/16 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2019 | 3/16 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.47 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: PALMER CENTER UGARC · 30 people · 2018 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.5000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: SKYTOP APARTMENTS · 168 people · 2017 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0021 mg/L 14% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ULSTER WATER DISTRICT · 5,500 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0077 mg/L — PALMER CENTER UGARC · 30 people · 2025 | 16/16 | 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 Ulster
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ULSTER WATER DISTRICT | 5,500 |
| KINGSVALE WATER CO | 600 |
| GLENERIE WATER DISTRICT | 410 |
| HILLSIDE ACRES WATER COMPANY | 402 |
| HALCYON PARK WATER DISTRICT | 402 |
| CHERRY HILL WATER DISTRICT | 280 |
| SPRING LAKE WATER DISTRICT | 270 |
| EAST KINGSTON WATER DISTRICT | 212 |
| SAWKILL COMMUNITY | 186 |
| SKYTOP APARTMENTS | 168 |
| CREEKLOCKS MOBILE HOME PARK | 150 |
| BRIGHT ACRES WATER DISTRICT | 105 |
| ULSTER LANDING MOBILE COURT | 84 |
| ELLIOTT MOBILE HOME PARK | 45 |
| PALMER CENTER UGARC | 30 |
| RUBY ESTATES | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Ulster tap water
Is Ulster tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Ulster. 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 Ulster?
16 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Ulster, New York to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Ulster's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Ulster include Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium, 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.