Rochester City
EPA ID: NY2704518 · 214,000 people served · 44 ZIP codes
Not yet resolved: 23 EPA violations at Rochester City, affecting about 214,000 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Rochester City Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Rochester City serves a community with a median household income of $62,564 and an estimated 476,655 residents across its service area. Approximately 85% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 36% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Rochester 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 Monroe 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
Detected Contaminants
How Rochester City compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead at 2 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.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 12 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 2049 at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
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
Rochester City (EPA ID: NY2704518) is a community water system in New York that serves approximately 214,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 44 ZIP codes across 1 community.
Average Home Safety Score: B (73/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2025 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Health-based | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| December 1, 2024 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2024 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 10, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 1, 2024 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
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 | 12 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 6 | Yes |
| Contaminant 2049 | Other Violation | 4 | No |
| Contaminant 2959 | Other Violation | 3 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 2 | No |
| Contaminant 1045 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2806 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 3001 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14604 | 0.0047 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 14605 | 0.0047 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 14607 | 0.0047 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 14608 | 0.0047 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 14611 | 0.0047 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 14613 | 0.0047 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 14614 | 0.0047 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 14619 | 0.0047 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 14627 | 0.0047 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 14642 | 0.0047 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate 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: 21 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 23 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 44 ZIP codes:
14602 · 14603 · 14604 · 14605 · 14606 14607 · 14608 · 14609 · 14610 · 14611 14612 · 14613 · 14614 · 14615 · 14616 14617 · 14618 · 14619 · 14620 · 14621 14622 · 14623 · 14624 · 14625 · 14626 14627 · 14638 · 14639 · 14642 · 14643 14644 · 14645 · 14646 · 14647 · 14649 14650 · 14651 · 14652 · 14653 · 14664 14673 · 14683 · 14692 · 14694
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Rochester City (NY2704518) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rochester City water safe to drink?
Rochester City has recorded 2 health-based violations 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 Rochester City serve?
Rochester City serves approximately 214,000 people across 44 ZIP codes in New York.
Where does Rochester 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
Rochester City (EPA ID: NY2704518) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.