Schenectady City Water Works
EPA ID: NY4600070 · 61,821 people served · 15 ZIP codes
EPA compliance records for Schenectady City Water Works show 18 unresolved violations — findings that remain open and are tracked at the federal level, covering a service territory of approximately 61,821 people.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 2 (2021) to 1 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Schenectady City Water Works Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Schenectady City Water Works serves a community with a median household income of $79,099 and an estimated 177,520 residents across its service area. Approximately 76% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Schenectady City Water Works's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.
About 1% of homes in Schenectady 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 Schenectady City Water Works compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 23 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 2806 at 8 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 2049 at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 2 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. 7 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) 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
SCHENECTADY CITY WATER WORKS (EPA ID: NY4600070) is a community water system in New York that serves approximately 61,821 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 15 ZIP codes across 5 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (69/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2023 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| May 1, 2023 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2023 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2023 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Chlorine residual | Health-based | 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 | 23 | No |
| Contaminant 2806 | Other Violation | 8 | No |
| Contaminant 2049 | Other Violation | 3 | No |
| Chlorine residual | Disinfectant | 3 | Yes |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2959 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Chlorine (Residual Disinfectant) (EPA limit: 4 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level))
Irritation & DBP formation at high levels; protective at normal treatment levels At-risk groups: people with asthma or chemical sensitivities, kidney dialysis patients (water must be dechlorinated).
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), KDF media filter, carbon block filter. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12301 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 12303 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 12304 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 12305 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 12306 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 12307 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 12308 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 12309 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 12325 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 12345 | 0.003 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: 7 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 8 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.
- 12008 — Alplaus
- 12137 — Pattersonville
- 12148 — Rexford
- 12150 — Rotterdam Junction
- 12301 — Schenectady
- 12302 — Schenectady
- 12303 — Schenectady
- 12304 — Schenectady
- 12305 — Schenectady
- 12306 — Schenectady
- 12307 — Schenectady
- 12308 — Schenectady
- 12309 — Schenectady
- 12325 — Schenectady
- 12345 — Schenectady
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Schenectady City Water Works (NY4600070) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Schenectady City Water Works water safe to drink?
Schenectady City Water Works has recorded 3 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 Schenectady City Water Works serve?
Schenectady City Water Works serves approximately 61,821 people across 15 ZIP codes in New York.
Where does Schenectady City Water Works get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from CITY OF SCHENECTADY DEPARTMENT OF WATER Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: CITY OF SCHENECTADY DEPARTMENT OF WATER Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from CITY OF SCHENECTADY DEPARTMENT OF WATER Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
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
Schenectady City Water Works (EPA ID: NY4600070) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.