Albany City
EPA ID: NY0100189 · 98,000 people served · 52 ZIP codes
Pulled from the federal compliance ledger, 2 violations at Albany City remain without resolution — the utility delivers drinking water to roughly 98,000 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 1 (2021) to 150 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Albany City Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade F
Service Area Demographics
The Albany City serves a community with a median household income of $72,351 and an estimated 164,107 residents across its service area. Approximately 79% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Albany City's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Albany County, New York rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 78th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Albany City compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 15 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Contaminant 2829 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 2049 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
ALBANY CITY (EPA ID: NY0100189) is a community water system in New York that serves approximately 98,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 52 ZIP codes across 3 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: F (22/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Contaminant 2829 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| December 19, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Contaminant 2454 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| December 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| May 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 15 | No |
| Contaminant 2829 | Other Violation | 2 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 1 | Yes |
| Contaminant 2049 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2454 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Lead (EPA limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level))
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults At-risk groups: infants, children under 6, pregnant women.
Removal methods: reverse osmosis, distillation, certified carbon block filter (NSF/ANSI 53). Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12201 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12202 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12203 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12204 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12205 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12206 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12207 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12208 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12209 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12210 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12211 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12212 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12214 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12220 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12222 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12223 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12224 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12225 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12226 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 12227 | 0.016 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 13 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 39 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 52 ZIP codes:
12128 · 12159 · 12201 · 12202 · 12203 12204 · 12205 · 12206 · 12207 · 12208 12209 · 12210 · 12211 · 12212 · 12214 12220 · 12222 · 12223 · 12224 · 12225 12226 · 12227 · 12228 · 12229 · 12230 12231 · 12232 · 12233 · 12234 · 12235 12236 · 12237 · 12238 · 12239 · 12240 12241 · 12242 · 12243 · 12244 · 12245 12246 · 12247 · 12248 · 12249 · 12250 12252 · 12255 · 12256 · 12257 · 12260 12261 · 12288
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Albany City (NY0100189) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Albany City water safe to drink?
Albany City has recorded 1 health-based violation in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Albany City serve?
Albany City serves approximately 98,000 people across 52 ZIP codes in New York.
Where does Albany City get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Albany City (EPA ID: NY0100189) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.