Water System Report NY

Elma Water District No. 1

EPA ID: NY1420549 · 10,287 people served · 6 ZIP codes

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 Last verified: 2026-04-02

D · 53
Avg Safety Score
10,287
People Served
6
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0016 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$312K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 2 (2021) to 2 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$103,474
Median Household Income
95,250
Service Area Population
27%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
43th
Energy Burden Percentile
66%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Elma Water District No. 1 serves a community with a median household income of $103,474 and an estimated 95,250 residents across its service area. Approximately 66% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 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
23th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
43th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Erie County, New York rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

60 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
10 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 86% 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in New York

Corning City
10,300 people
D 12 violations
C 6 violations
C 4 violations
Ogdensburg City
10,064 people
B 8 violations
B 63 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 $1,100
Water Filtration $150
PFAS Treatment $83
Total Estimated Cost $2,533

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 $2,533 (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 6 ZIP codes across 6 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: D (53/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
14059 0.0016 mg/L No 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 Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 4 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 2 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.

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?

Based on EPA records, Elma Water District No. 1 has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

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

Elma Water District No. 1 serves approximately 10,287 people across 6 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) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
2,684
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 10,287
Reported to New York

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Elma Water District No. 1 safe to drink?
Elma Water District No. 1 has a D 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 6 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 $103,474. 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.

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 →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

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

Home Water Systems New York Elma Water District No. 1

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