Albany, NY: 5 Health Violations - Home Safety 66/100
50 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Albany: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (5 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Albany lands in the middle of the grade scale in NY; EPA records can differ from one service area to the next.
How Albany Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Albany, NY
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Albany's 10 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Albany Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 14 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.013 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $425 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.26.
Albany's Water Providers
Counting every public water system linked to Albany, NY in federal data gives 6. The list below keeps the 3 largest by reported population served, a figure that covers each system's whole service area rather than the city alone. A household's own supplier is named on its water bill.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 50 ZIP codes in Albany, New York (population ~155,313), covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 257,120 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 12 of 50 ZIP codes.
12 of 12 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 5 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Albany: C (66/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Albany water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0130 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 12 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
50 of 50 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 13 | 12 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 11 | 3 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 8 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12205 | — | 7 | 0 | Latham Water District |
| 12203 | C | 6 | 4 | Albany City |
| 12222 | — | 4 | 2 | Albany City |
| 12204 | C | 3 | 1 | Menands Village |
| 12202 | C | 1 | 0 | Albany City |
| 12206 | C | 1 | 0 | Albany City |
| 12207 | C | 1 | 0 | Albany City |
| 12208 | C | 1 | 0 | Albany City |
| 12209 | C | 1 | 0 | Albany City |
| 12210 | C | 1 | 0 | Albany City |
All ZIP Codes in Albany
- 12201
- 12202 [C] - 1 violation
- 12203 [C] - 6 violations ⚠
- 12204 [C] - 3 violations ⚠
- 12205 - 7 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 12206 [C] - 1 violation
- 12207 [C] - 1 violation
- 12208 [C] - 1 violation
- 12209 [C] - 1 violation
- 12210 [C] - 1 violation
- 12211 [C] - 1 violation
- 12212
- 12214
- 12220
- 12222 - 4 violations ⚠
- 12223
- 12224
- 12225
- 12226 [C] - 1 violation
- 12227
- 12228
- 12229
- 12230
- 12231
- 12232
- 12233
- 12234
- 12235
- 12236
- 12237
- 12238
- 12239
- 12240
- 12241
- 12242
- 12243
- 12244
- 12245
- 12246
- 12247
- 12248
- 12249
- 12250
- 12252
- 12255
- 12256
- 12257
- 12260
- 12261
- 12288
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Albany Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Albany's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Albany
The remediation-to-value ratio for Albany sits at the bottom of the scale.
Estimated remediation costs in Albany can be compared with local home values. The $225–$875 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 33% below the New York average.
Albany: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Albany: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Albany contains 99 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $12,934. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 44% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $425 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Albany
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
- Install a certified water filter. For Public Notice Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Albany: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Albany, NY