Schenectady, NY: 33 Health Violations — 75/100 (2026)
11 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Unlike many cities its size in NY, Schenectady keeps health-based violation rates low — systems here score at or above the state average for tap water safety, with no systemic concerns flagged in the current data set.
How Schenectady Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Schenectady, NY
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of water safety grades across Schenectady.
Schenectady Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 693 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 81% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,836 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.06 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Schenectady
Water supply in Schenectady, NY follows a divided structure: 3 utilities account for the largest share of residential service out of 7 total systems, each managing its own distribution network and EPA reporting. Because these systems operate independently, rate decisions and compliance outcomes are determined separately.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 11 ZIP codes in Schenectady, New York, covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 169,777 people.
11 of 11 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 33 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Schenectady: B (75/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Schenectady water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0030 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 1 ZIP code
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 276 | 11 |
| Contaminant 2806 | Other | 96 | 11 |
| Contaminant 2049 | Other | 36 | 11 |
| Chlorine residual | Disinfectant | 36 | 11 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 24 | 11 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12301 | B | 63 | 3 | Schenectady City Water Works |
| 12302 | B | 63 | 3 | BURNT HILLS-BALLSTON LK WD |
| 12303 | C | 63 | 3 | Schenectady City Water Works |
| 12304 | B | 63 | 3 | Schenectady City Water Works |
| 12305 | B | 63 | 3 | Schenectady City Water Works |
| 12306 | B | 63 | 3 | Schenectady City Water Works |
| 12307 | B | 63 | 3 | Schenectady City Water Works |
| 12308 | B | 63 | 3 | Schenectady City Water Works |
| 12309 | B | 63 | 3 | Schenectady City Water Works |
| 12325 | B | 63 | 3 | Schenectady City Water Works |
All ZIP Codes in Schenectady
- 12301 [B] — 63 violations ⚠
- 12302 [B] — 63 violations ⚠
- 12303 [C] — 63 violations ⚠
- 12304 [B] — 63 violations ⚠
- 12305 [B] — 63 violations ⚠
- 12306 [B] — 63 violations ⚠
- 12307 [B] — 63 violations ⚠
- 12308 [B] — 63 violations ⚠
- 12309 [B] — 63 violations ⚠
- 12325 [B] — 63 violations ⚠
- 12345 [B] — 63 violations ⚠
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
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Schenectady
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Schenectady
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Schenectady's Housing Stock?
With 81% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
While newer cities carry lower aggregate plumbing risk from lead-era construction, Schenectady sits firmly in the older category. The median build year of 1940 indicates that more than half the housing stock was built before 1986, when lead solder was still legally used in residential copper plumbing — and a substantial portion likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still commonly installed for service lines. These two thresholds together define the elevated plumbing risk environment that older housing cities carry, independent of what the municipal water supply delivers to the meter.
Over half of homes in Schenectady were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Schenectady: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The household financial perspective in Schenectady reflects a moderate cost-to-value ratio — an equity share that is not trivially small but remains within the range where most homeowners can address documented water and safety issues by treating the expense as a real line item in property planning rather than a discretionary one.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Schenectady. The estimated $1,791–$4,509 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 41% below the New York average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Schenectady
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.
Locally, 81% of Schenectady homes carry interior plumbing from the era when lead solder was still permitted in new builds, and citywide monitoring approaches or crosses the EPA action benchmark. Households can find a draw-test kit and certified filtration through verified retailers.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Schenectady
Although Schenectady's flood history doesn't reach high-severity thresholds, NFIP data documents 306 claims and FEMA maps place 73% of ZIP codes in designated flood zones — a combined profile that makes flood-related water quality considerations a reasonable planning baseline.
Schenectady has a moderate flood history with 306 FEMA claims averaging $9,545 per payout. 73% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,836</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Schenectady, NY