What was found in Watertown'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 | 1100 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2300 µg/L — COLD CREEK STUDIOS · 90 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 776 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 16.4 µg/L 0.8% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 266.657 µg/L — COLD CREEK STUDIOS · 90 people · 2018 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 118 µg/L 148% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 112 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 100 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: COLD CREEK STUDIOS · 90 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 78 µg/L 130% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 79.56 µg/L — SOUTHSIDE WATER INC. · 195 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 77.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LERAY TOWN WD 3 · 480 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 44.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 38.75 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 39.705 µg/L — SOUTHSIDE WATER INC. · 195 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 24.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.16 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.945 µg/L — LERAY TOWN WD 3 · 480 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 9.815 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.55 µg/L — WATERTOWN TOWN WD 1 & 2 · 600 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.44 µg/L — LERAY TOWN WD 3 · 480 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 11.69 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2016 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.56 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.27 µg/L — SOUTHSIDE WATER INC. · 195 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 3.3 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: NORTHLAND ESTATES · 540 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 3.02 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2016 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.4 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.2 pCi/L 24% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2014 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| P-Dichlorobenzene | 0.7600 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 75 µg/L Highest in the city: COLD CREEK STUDIOS · 90 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 0.4900 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: NORTHLAND ESTATES · 540 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| PFOA | 0.0073 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2025 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0063 mg/L 42% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2025 | 7/8 | LCR |
| PFHXS | 0.0039 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATERTOWN CITY · 27,861 people · 2025 | 1/8 | 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 Watertown
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| WATERTOWN CITY | 27,861 |
| WATERTOWN TOWN WD 3 & 4 & 5 | 750 |
| WATERTOWN TOWN WD 1 & 2 | 600 |
| NORTHLAND ESTATES | 540 |
| LERAY TOWN WD 3 | 480 |
| SOUTHSIDE WATER INC. | 195 |
| COLD CREEK STUDIOS | 90 |
| DANC (WATERTOWN / FT. DRUM) | 0 |
Frequently asked questions about Watertown tap water
Is Watertown tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Watertown. 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 Watertown?
8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Watertown, New York to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Watertown's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Watertown 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.