Historical Compliance Records NY 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Riverhead Water District

EPA ID: NY5103705 ยท 35,000 people served ยท 7 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Riverhead Water District (NY5103705): 1 past health-based violation, since resolved. Riverhead Water District carries 2 resolved violations in the five-year EPA record - each has been formally closed, and the supplier, which serves approximately 35,000 people, now meets all applicable federal drinking water standards with no open enforcement activity remaining.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 80
Avg Safety Score
35,000
People Served
7
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk ยท Low
2
Contaminants Flagged
$552K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Riverhead Water District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$135,000
Median Household Income
62,693
Service Area Population
5%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
56%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Riverhead Water District serves a community with a median household income of $135,000 and an estimated 62,693 residents across its service area. Approximately 56% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Riverhead Water District'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
0th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
80th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

47 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
23 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 67% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Riverhead Water District compares to EPA limits

Arsenic 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.01 mg/L
Copper 1 mg/L (77% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 1.3 mg/L

What This Means For You

Arsenic at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.01 mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 32 detections recorded. 9 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 2 exceed state limits.

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

Long Beach City
35,000 people
A 1 violation
C 102 violations
Dix Hills Water District
34,522 people
1 violation
B 2 violations
B 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,286
PFAS Treatment $429
Water Filtration $43
Total Estimated Cost $1,757

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,757 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

Riverhead Water District (EPA ID: NY5103705) is a community water system in New York that serves approximately 35,000 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 7 ZIP codes across 7 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (80/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 4 of 7 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 current noncompliance in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot. The 2 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 2 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2023 Arsenic Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2023 Copper Health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Arsenic Inorganic 1 No
Copper Inorganic 1 Yes

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.002 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 3 (Low Risk)

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 Riverhead Water District (NY5103705) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Riverhead Water District water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Riverhead Water District; its 2 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Riverhead Water District serve?

Riverhead Water District serves approximately 35,000 people across 7 ZIP codes in New York.

Where does Riverhead Water District get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
580
Detections
4
Latest sample
6/20/2023
Highest analyte
PFOS: 5.2 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 5.2 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFOA 4 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFHxA 3.3 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 3.2 ppt โ€” โ€”

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†’

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

Is water from Riverhead Water District safe to drink?
Riverhead Water District earns a B safety grade with 2 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Riverhead Water District's water?
Detected contaminants include Arsenic, Copper. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Riverhead Water District serve?
Riverhead Water District serves approximately 35,000 people with drinking water across 7 ZIP codes.
What is Riverhead Water District's water source?
Riverhead Water District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Riverhead Water District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.002 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Riverhead Water District's service area?
The Riverhead Water District service area has a median household income of $135,000. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Riverhead Water District get its water?
Riverhead Water District'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. Based on the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Riverhead Water District (NY): 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ny5103705/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ny5103705,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Riverhead Water District (NY): 1 Health Violation}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ny5103705/}
}

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

Riverhead Water District (EPA ID: NY5103705) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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