Water System Report NY

Elma Water District No. 1

EPA ID: NY1420549 ยท 10,287 people served ยท 4 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Elma Water District No. 1 (NY1420549): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Unlike many utilities its size, Elma Water District No. 1 carry a violation-free five-year record - no EPA notices, no MCL exceedances, serving 10,287 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 67
Avg Safety Score
10,287
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0016 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$318K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Elma Water District No. 1 Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$102,586
Median Household Income
93,356
Service Area Population
29%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
68%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Elma Water District No. 1 serves a community with a median household income of $102,586 and an estimated 93,356 residents across its service area. Approximately 68% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Elma Water District No. 1'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
40th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

61 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
9 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 87% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.01 ppt, PFOS: 0.01 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in New York

Corning City
10,300 people
F 29 violations
3 violations
B 2 violations
Ogdensburg City
10,064 people
0 violations
C 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
Water Filtration $225
PFAS Treatment $125
Total Estimated Cost $2,750

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,750 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Elma Water District No. 1 (EPA ID: NY1420549) is a community water system in New York that serves approximately 10,287 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (67/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 4 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0016 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by NY or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Elma Water District No. 1 (NY1420549) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elma Water District No. 1 water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Elma Water District No. 1 in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Elma Water District No. 1 serve?

Elma Water District No. 1 serves approximately 10,287 people across 4 ZIP codes in New York.

Where does Elma Water District No. 1 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.

Samples collected
116

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Elma Water District No. 1 safe to drink?
Elma Water District No. 1 has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Elma Water District No. 1 meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Elma Water District No. 1 serve?
Elma Water District No. 1 serves approximately 10,287 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Elma Water District No. 1's water source?
Elma Water District No. 1 draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Elma Water District No. 1's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0016 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Elma Water District No. 1's service area?
The Elma Water District No. 1 service area has a median household income of $102,586. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Elma Water District No. 1 get its water?
Elma Water District No. 1'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. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Elma Water District No. 1, NY: Serves 10K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ny1420549/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ny1420549,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Elma Water District No. 1, NY: Serves 10K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ny1420549/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Elma Water District No. 1 (EPA ID: NY1420549) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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