COUNTY REPORT NY

Cayuga County, New York

21 ZIP codes · Avg score 57/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Recent monitoring in Cayuga County's 21 ZIP codes shows middle-tier safety — some systems are clean; others have logged EPA violations.

How Cayuga County Compares

Cayuga County57/100
New York avg61/100
National avg68/100

How Cayuga County Compares

C
County Grade
57/100
Avg Safety Score
21
ZIP Codes
28
Water Systems

Cayuga County scores 4 points below the New York state average (61/100) and 11 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
57
Avg Safety Score
21
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 13071 (70/100)
Lowest ZIP: 13147 (40/100)
$164K
Median Home Value
$2,219
Avg Remediation (135% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Cayuga County, New York

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 13.8 (asthma 11.1%, diabetes 11.7%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,196, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.468% avg pipe failure probability, 89% of ZIPs at high risk

71.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2024)

↓ Improving trend

EPA violation counts by year across Cayuga County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
2 (2 health)
2022
28 (28 health)
2023
3 (3 health)
2024
1 (1 health)

Peak year: 2022 with 28 violations. Past 5 years: 34 total (34 health-based). Health-based violations are declining versus the prior 2-year window.

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.1% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.7% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 35.8% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1963
Median Build Year
71.2%
Pre-1978 Housing
47%
Pipe Failure Probability
89%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,196

Flood $495/yr
Energy Code Gap $411/yr
Water / Lead $210/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

35,647 housing units in Cayuga County

Pre-1940 37%
1940–1959 15%
1960–1979 20%
1980–1999 18%
2000+ 10%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Cayuga County

$164K
Median Home Value
$2,219
Est. Remediation Cost
1.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Cayuga County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Cayuga County residents

Asthma 11.1% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.7% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 35.8% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Cayuga County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Cayuga County Water & Sewer 958 14
2 Auburn 27,179 12
3 Owasco Water District 3,000 12
4 Port Byron Village 1,400 12
5 Fleming Water District #1 1,800 12

28 total water systems serve Cayuga County.

All ZIP Codes in Cayuga County

21 ZIP codes tracked in Cayuga County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 13071 Genoa 70 B 0 $180K
2 13113 Meridian 70 B 0 $113K
3 13156 Sterling 70 B 0 $160K
4 13160 Union Springs 65 C 0 $188K
5 13033 Cato 64 C 2 $166K
6 13034 Cayuga 64 C 2 $178K
7 13117 Montezuma 64 C 3 $109K
8 13166 Weedsport 62 C 4 (3 health) $151K
9 13021 Auburn 61 C 4 (4 health) $169K
10 13022 Auburn 61 C 4 (4 health)
11 13024 Auburn 61 C 4 (4 health)
12 13092 Locke 61 C 5 $174K
13 13118 Moravia 61 C 5 (1 health) $162K
14 13140 Port Byron 61 C 2 (1 health) $112K
15 13081 King Ferry 53 D 0 $259K
16 13026 Aurora 40 D 8 (4 health) $202K
17 13107 Maple View 40 D 0
18 13111 Martville 40 D 0 $126K
19 13137 Plainville 40 D 0
20 13139 Poplar Ridge 40 D 0
21 13147 Scipio Center 40 D 0 $154K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Cayuga County

Retailer arrangements don't shape what appears here — the selection logic is independent, filtered against EPA detections and the federal hazard data on file for this county.

Overview

Cayuga County in New York covers 21 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (57/100).

11 of 21 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 21 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to New York water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Cayuga County?
Cayuga County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Cayuga County?
Cayuga County is served by 28 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 21 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Cayuga County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Cayuga County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,196 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Cayuga County?
The median home build year in Cayuga County is 1963. 71.2% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Cayuga County compare to New York?
Cayuga County has an average water safety score of 57/100, which is below the New York state average of 61/100.

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