CITY REPORT NY

New York, NY Water Safety: 99/100

159 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for New York: A.

No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.

Water systems serving New York hold a strong EPA compliance record - the city places among the better-performing areas in NY with few health-based violations on file.

Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS

159
ZIP Codes
1
Water Systems
0
ZIPs with Violations
A · 99
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
Radon Risk (Low)

Water Quality in New York

We track home safety signals for 159 ZIP codes in New York, New York. EPA community-water data is directly mapped for 63 ZIP codes and 1 water system.

The available EPA records report no violations across 63 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts in New York. This measured subset does not cover ZIP records without a confirmed EPA system mapping.

Average Home Safety Score: A (99/100)

Water sources: Surface water.

Lead Risk

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0100 mg/L
  • 0 of 63 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
  • 75% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
  • 44% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
  • Median year built: 1943
  • Most common estimated pipe material: Galvanized Steel or Copper
  • Lead exposure risk score: 76/100
  • Estimated lead service line probability: 23%
  • 44 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk

With 75% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, New York residents - especially those in older neighborhoods - should consider testing their tap water for lead. Homes built before 1950 are at the highest risk of having lead service lines.

Housing Age Distribution

909,015 total housing units across 159 ZIP codes:

Era Units Share
Pre-1940 389,839 43%
1940–1949 59,244 7%
1950–1959 82,451 9%
1960–1969 118,152 13%
1970–1979 67,981 7%
1980–1989 58,711 6%
1990–1999 32,460 4%
2000–2009 56,217 6%
2010–2019 43,013 5%
2020+ 947 0%

Flood Risk

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for New York:

  • 1,679 flood insurance claims on record
  • $126,774,525 sum of reported building, contents, and ICC payment components
  • 1,093 claims with payment data
  • 586 claims without reported payment fields
  • $115,988 average reported component sum among claims with payment data
  • Dominant rated-zone value in historical claims: AE (A/V-family)
  • 34 of 55 ZIP codes with claim-zone records have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims
  • Claim-zone values are historical insurance records, not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory

Radon Risk

Dominant EPA radon zone among 157 ZIP records with zone data: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

  • Zone 1 (High): 2 ZIP codes
  • Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 3 (Low): 155 ZIP codes

Neighborhoods by Safety Score

Safest Areas

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
10001 100/100 A 0
10002 100/100 A 0
10003 100/100 A 0
10004 100/100 A 0
10005 100/100 A 0
10006 100/100 A 0
10007 100/100 A 0
10009 100/100 A 0
10010 100/100 A 0
10011 100/100 A 0

Areas Needing Attention

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
10032 67/100 C 0
10282 100/100 A 0
10280 100/100 A 0
10279 100/100 A 0
10278 100/100 A 0
10271 100/100 A 0
10199 100/100 A 0
10174 100/100 A 0
10172 100/100 A 0
10171 100/100 A 0

What New York Residents Can Do

Test Your Water

  • Order a certified lab test - home test kits cost $20–50 and cover lead, bacteria, and common contaminants
  • Request your utility's CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) - your water provider must publish this annually
  • Check your ZIP code - each area in New York has different water systems and risk levels

Filter Your Water

  • NSF-certified pitcher filter removes chlorine taste and some contaminants ($20–40)
  • NSF 53-certified filter for lead - recommended for homes built before 1986
  • Reverse osmosis system removes 95%+ of contaminants including lead, PFAS, and nitrates ($150–400)

Stay Informed

All ZIP Codes in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water safe to drink in New York, NY?

The Home Safety Score is not a drinking-water grade. New York has an average score of 99/100 (grade A) across 61 ZIP codes with complete current-model evidence. Separately, the available EPA records report no violations across 63 ZIP records with reported counts. Check the specific ZIP and serving utility before drawing a water-safety conclusion.

Does New York have lead in the water?

The average 90th-percentile lead level across New York is 0.0100 mg/L, below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. 0 of 63 ZIP codes with known action-level status exceed the EPA limit. About 75% of housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was banned.

Is New York at risk for flooding?

FEMA data shows 1,679 flood insurance claim records in New York ZIP codes, with an average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum of $115,988 among 1,093 claims with payment data. 586 claims lack reported payment fields and are not counted as zero. Among 55 ZIP codes with historical claim-zone values, 34 have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims. Claim records do not establish current property-level flood risk; check the FEMA map for a specific address.

Are there lead pipes in New York homes?

75% of New York housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 44% was built before 1950, when lead pipes were standard. The most common estimated pipe material is Galvanized Steel or Copper. The estimated probability of lead service lines is 23%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.

Data Sources

Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.

Housing & Infrastructure in New York

1943
Median Build Year
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

Median build year of 1943 means many homes predate lead paint and lead solder regulations. Consider testing if your home has original plumbing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

The year 1986 marks a critical threshold in residential plumbing safety: that's when the federal government banned lead solder from new construction, closing a major pathway for lead entering household drinking water via pipe joints. New York's median build year of 1943 signals that most of the city's housing was built under the newer standard. The distribution above tells the full story - the post-1986 majority lowers aggregate risk, but the pre-1986 share still deserves scrutiny from anyone living in or purchasing an older home.

1943
Median Year Built
0%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
0%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Most homes in New York were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in New York

0.01
mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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 New York 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.

Historical NFIP Claim Context in New York

1,679
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$115,988
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
62%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for New York contains 1,679 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $115,988. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 62% 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.

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.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for New York, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for New York, NY?
New York has an average Home Safety Score of 99/100 (Grade A) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. The available EPA record reports no violations for ZIP codes with reported counts. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
Does New York water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in New York is 0.01 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How many water systems serve New York?
New York is served by 1 public water system across 159 ZIP codes, serving approximately 1,617,259 people.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). New York, NY Water Safety: 99/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ny/new-york/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ny-new-york,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{New York, NY Water Safety: 99/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ny/new-york/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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