Connecticut Water Quality Report: 2,592 Violations Across 235 ZIPs
423 water systems · 235 ZIP codes · 2,592 violations · Updated
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified:
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 423 public water systems serving 235 ZIP codes in Connecticut. The state record shows 2,592 EPA violations, 106 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: Connecticut
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Connecticut.
Cities with Most Violations in Connecticut
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookfield | 275 | 5 | 17,871 | Details → | |
| 2 | New Milford | 167 | 5 | 27,133 | Details → | |
| 3 | Danbury | 113 | 9 | 85,705 | Details → | |
| 4 | Trumbull | 92 | 2 | 36,928 | Details → | |
| 5 | Bethel | 78 | 4 | 20,498 | Details → | |
| 6 | New Fairfield | 59 | 5 | 13,558 | Details → | |
| 7 | Storrs Mansfield | 55 | 6 | 17,505 | Details → | |
| 8 | Southbury | 52 | 3 | 19,973 | Details → | |
| 9 | Sandy Hook | 52 | 3 | 11,808 | Details → | |
| 10 | Oakdale | 46 | 5 | 7,547 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in Connecticut
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 416 | 93 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 217 | 92 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 110 | 45 | No |
| Chromium | Inorganic | 91 | 46 | No |
| Barium | Inorganic | 90 | 45 | No |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 90 | 45 | No |
| Fluoride | Inorganic | 90 | 45 | No |
| Selenium | Inorganic | 90 | 45 | No |
| Nitrite | Inorganic | 90 | 45 | No |
| Contaminant 1036 | Other | 90 | 45 | No |
Water Quality Overview
Connecticut has 423 community water systems represented across 235 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 3,486,063 people. The available records contain 2,592 EPA violations, including 106 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 4% of all violations in Connecticut. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 106 | 4.1% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 2,486 | 95.9% |
| Total | 2,592 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report - these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Connecticut have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookfield | 275 | 5 | 17,871 |
| 2 | New Milford | 167 | 5 | 27,133 |
| 3 | Danbury | 113 | 9 | 85,705 |
| 4 | Trumbull | 92 | 2 | 36,928 |
| 5 | Bethel | 78 | 4 | 20,498 |
| 6 | New Fairfield | 59 | 5 | 13,558 |
| 7 | Storrs Mansfield | 55 | 6 | 17,505 |
| 8 | Southbury | 52 | 3 | 19,973 |
| 9 | Sandy Hook | 52 | 3 | 11,808 |
| 10 | Oakdale | 46 | 5 | 7,547 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Connecticut:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25 | 25 |
| 2022 | 43 | 43 |
| 2023 | 34 | 34 |
| 2024 | 181 | 181 |
| 2025 | 19 | 19 |
Violations have decreased from 25 in 2021 to 19 in 2025, suggesting improving compliance across Connecticut.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Connecticut water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 416 | 93 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 217 | 92 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 110 | 45 | No |
| Chromium | Inorganic | 91 | 46 | No |
| Barium | Inorganic | 90 | 45 | No |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 90 | 45 | No |
| Fluoride | Inorganic | 90 | 45 | No |
| Selenium | Inorganic | 90 | 45 | No |
| Nitrite | Inorganic | 90 | 45 | No |
| Mercury | Inorganic | 90 | 45 | No |
How to Check Your Water in Connecticut
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the separate Home Safety Score is a multi-source index
Request your CCR - every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test - certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 1,812 enforcement actions against water systems in Connecticut. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - the legal limit designed to protect human health. Connecticut has 106 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Connecticut?
Connecticut has 423 community water systems with 2,592 recorded EPA violations, including 106 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Connecticut have?
Connecticut has 2,592 total EPA violations across 235 ZIP codes. 106 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Connecticut has the worst water quality?
Brookfield, CT has the most EPA violations among major cities in Connecticut with 275 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Connecticut has the best water quality?
Several cities in Connecticut maintain excellent EPA compliance. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in Connecticut drinking water?
Connecticut water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region - check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.