What was found in Waterloo'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | 552.5 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 468 µg/L 4.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 466.4 µg/L 4.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 119 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 43.7 µg/L 4.4% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 9.5235 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 37.95 µg/L — CAYUGA LAKE WATER DISTRICT # 3 · 432 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 29 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 13.688 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.125 µg/L — CAYUGA LAKE WATER DISTRICT # 3 · 432 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1.3915 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 20.9275 µg/L — CAYUGA LAKE WATER DISTRICT # 3 · 432 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 13.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2023 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 2.4885 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.33 µg/L — CAYUGA LAKE WATER DISTRICT # 3 · 432 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 4.476 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.355 µg/L — CAYUGA LAKE WATER DISTRICT # 3 · 432 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 0.8190 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.125 µg/L — CAYUGA LAKE WATER DISTRICT # 3 · 432 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.649 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.46 µg/L — BURGESS ROAD WATER DISTRICT · 200 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.52 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 4.83 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.06 µg/L — TOWN OF WATERLOO WATER DISTRICT · 250 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 3.7 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.3605 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.7835 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.215 µg/L — BURGESS ROAD WATER DISTRICT · 200 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.4 µg/L 2.8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.34 pCi/L 27% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.1 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.4300 µg/L 7.2% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.2890 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2013 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0096 mg/L 64% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: WATERLOO VILLAGE · 7,000 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0914 mg/L — SOUTH PRE-EMPTION WATER DISTRICT · 30 people · 2025 | 6/7 | 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 Waterloo
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| WATERLOO VILLAGE | 7,000 |
| BORDER CITY WATER DISTRICT | 1,600 |
| CAYUGA LAKE WATER DISTRICT # 3 | 432 |
| TOWN OF WATERLOO WATER DISTRICT | 250 |
| BURGESS ROAD WATER DISTRICT | 200 |
| FAYETTE WATER DISTRICT #8 | 50 |
| SOUTH PRE-EMPTION WATER DISTRICT | 30 |
Frequently asked questions about Waterloo tap water
Is Waterloo tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Waterloo. 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 Waterloo?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Waterloo, New York to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Waterloo's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Waterloo include Chlorite, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Nitrite. 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.