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: consider a certified water filter (5 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Across water systems in Albany, safety results are uneven - a portion carry active or recent violations, while others meet federal standards without incident, placing the city in the middle tier for NY.
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 in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.013 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $2,538 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.26.
Albany's Water Providers
3 water utilities share the residential service territory in Albany, NY - out of 6 total systems in federal records.
- 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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 50 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 13 | 12 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 11 | 3 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 8 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 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
- 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). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
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
For most Albany homeowners, estimated remediation represents a moderate equity share - manageable with planning.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Albany. The estimated $1,692–$3,324 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 33% below the New York average.
Albany: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Lead risk in Albany appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
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 <strong>$2,538</strong> 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. Lead testing is especially recommended given the area's lead levels.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Lead and Copper Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Albany's water.
- 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