New York Water Quality Report: 15,109 Violations Across 2,186 ZIPs
4,072 water systems · 2,186 ZIP codes · 15,109 violations · Updated 2026-06-11
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified: 2026-06-11
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 4,072 public water systems serving 2,186 ZIP codes in New York. The state record shows 15,109 EPA violations, 2,672 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: New York
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 New York.
Cities with Most Violations in New York
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester | B | 2,948 | 6 | 476,655 | Details → |
| 2 | Brooklyn | C | 1,785 | 6 | 2,646,164 | Details → |
| 3 | Albany | F | 1,150 | 8 | 155,313 | Details → |
| 4 | Buffalo | C | 792 | 7 | 586,209 | Details → |
| 5 | Schenectady | B | 693 | 7 | 169,777 | Details → |
| 6 | New York | B | 636 | 4 | 1,617,259 | Details → |
| 7 | Syracuse | F | 504 | 8 | 229,027 | Details → |
| 8 | Binghamton | D | 105 | 10 | 81,687 | Details → |
| 9 | Middletown | D | 105 | 10 | 67,860 | Details → |
| 10 | Knox | C | 88 | 3 | 195 | Details → |
Cities with Best Water Quality in New York
| # | City | Grade | Score | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockville Center | A | 99/100 | 1 | 24,700 |
| 2 | Bloomingdale | A | 99/100 | 2 | 1,128 |
| 3 | Hicksville | A | 98/100 | 4 | 41,792 |
| 4 | Farmingdale | A | 97/100 | 6 | 32,778 |
| 5 | Syosset | A | 95/100 | 4 | 25,194 |
| 6 | Ticonderoga | A | 95/100 | 1 | 4,781 |
| 7 | West Haverstraw | A | 95/100 | 2 | 4,230 |
| 8 | Buchanan | A | 95/100 | 1 | 2,296 |
| 9 | Goldens Bridge | A | 95/100 | 2 | 2,040 |
| 10 | Crown Point | A | 95/100 | 1 | 1,805 |
Most Common Contaminants in New York
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 2806 | Other | 1,338 | 343 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,141 | 474 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 1,096 | 494 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 607 | 248 | No |
| Contaminant 2049 | Other | 589 | 312 | Yes |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 554 | 323 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 447 | 359 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 339 | 98 | Yes |
| Barium | Inorganic | 306 | 44 | Yes |
| Contaminant 2959 | Other | 240 | 138 | No |
Water Quality Overview
New York has 4,072 community water systems serving approximately 23,058,405 people across 2,186 ZIP codes. These systems have accumulated 15,109 EPA violations, including 2,672 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 18% of all violations in New York. 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 | 2,672 | 17.7% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 12,437 | 82.3% |
| Total | 15,109 | 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 New York have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Grade | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester | B | 2,948 | 6 | 476,655 |
| 2 | Brooklyn | C | 1,785 | 6 | 2,646,164 |
| 3 | Albany | F | 1,150 | 8 | 155,313 |
| 4 | Buffalo | C | 792 | 7 | 586,209 |
| 5 | Schenectady | B | 693 | 7 | 169,777 |
| 6 | New York | B | 636 | 4 | 1,617,259 |
| 7 | Syracuse | F | 504 | 8 | 229,027 |
| 8 | Binghamton | D | 105 | 10 | 81,687 |
| 9 | Middletown | D | 105 | 10 | 67,860 |
| 10 | Knox | C | 88 | 3 | 195 |
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.
Cities with Best Water Quality
These New York cities have monitored water systems graded A with no recorded EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Grade | Score | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockville Center | A | 99/100 | 1 | 24,700 |
| 2 | Bloomingdale | A | 99/100 | 2 | 1,128 |
| 3 | Hicksville | A | 98/100 | 4 | 41,792 |
| 4 | Farmingdale | A | 97/100 | 6 | 32,778 |
| 5 | Syosset | A | 95/100 | 4 | 25,194 |
| 6 | Ticonderoga | A | 95/100 | 1 | 4,781 |
| 7 | West Haverstraw | A | 95/100 | 2 | 4,230 |
| 8 | Buchanan | A | 95/100 | 1 | 2,296 |
| 9 | Goldens Bridge | A | 95/100 | 2 | 2,040 |
| 10 | Crown Point | A | 95/100 | 1 | 1,805 |
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in New York:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 289 | 289 |
| 2022 | 742 | 742 |
| 2023 | 1,174 | 1,174 |
| 2024 | 1,398 | 1,398 |
| 2025 | 870 | 869 |
Violations have increased from 289 in 2021 to 870 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring and may reflect expanded testing requirements rather than worsening quality.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across New York water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,141 | 474 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 1,096 | 494 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 607 | 248 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 554 | 323 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 447 | 359 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 339 | 98 | Yes |
| Barium | Inorganic | 306 | 44 | Yes |
| Chloroform | Disinfection Byproducts | 239 | 73 | Yes |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 188 | 40 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 85 | 67 | No |
How to Check Your Water in New York
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water system data including contaminant levels, violation history, and safety scores
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 14,711 enforcement actions against water systems in New York. 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. New York has 2,672 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 New York?
New York has 4,072 community water systems with 15,109 recorded EPA violations, including 2,672 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does New York have?
New York has 15,109 total EPA violations across 2,186 ZIP codes. 2,672 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in New York has the worst water quality?
Rochester, NY has the most EPA violations among major cities in New York with 2948 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in New York has the best water quality?
Rockville Center, NY ranks among the best for water quality in New York with a grade of A. Multiple cities in New York maintain strong EPA compliance records.
What contaminants are found in New York drinking water?
New York 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.