New York Water Report Card: Worst Water Systems
The most contaminated public water systems in New York, ranked by PFAS levels, lead, and EPA violations from official EPA data.
Quick Answer
Brookhaven National Labs has the highest PFAS in New York at 122.5 ppt (31x the EPA limit). Paul Smiths College has the highest lead at 610 ppb. The tables below rank the worst systems in each category so you can see how your water compares.
Highest PFAS Levels in New York
Public water systems in New York with the highest peak PFAS ("forever chemical") reading in EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025). The EPA enforceable limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 ppt.
| # | Water System | Location | Peak PFAS (ppt) | Compounds | vs 4 ppt limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookhaven National Labs | – | 122.5 | 1 | 31x |
| 2 | Yeshiva Farm Settlement | Mt. Kisco · 300 served | 106 | 10 | 27x |
| 3 | Batavia City | 15,475 served | 70 | 1 | 18x |
| 4 | Jericho Wd | Syosset · 58,000 served | 67 | 5 | 17x |
| 5 | Somers Town House/Hall | – | 54.7 | 7 | 14x |
| 6 | Suffolk County Water Authority | – | 43.5 | 10 | 11x |
| 7 | Locust Valley Wd | Locust Valley · 7,500 served | 29.6 | 2 | 7x |
| 8 | Fort Drum | Fort Drum · 34,000 served | 26 | 5 | 7x |
| 9 | Clarendon Town Wds | – | 19.1 | 1 | 5x |
| 10 | Manhasset Lakeville Wd | Great Neck · 43,000 served | 19 | 4 | 5x |
| 11 | Garden City Park Wd | Garden City Park · 18,000 served | 19 | 3 | 5x |
| 12 | Chester Village | – | 18.9 | 3 | 5x |
Highest Lead Levels in New York
Community water systems in New York with the highest 90th-percentile lead result under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. The EPA action level is 15 ppb; there is no safe level of lead for children.
| # | Water System | Location | Lead 90th-pctile (ppb) | vs 15 ppb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Smiths College | Paul Smiths · 1,100 served | 610 | 40.7x over |
| 2 | Castle Point Medical Center | Wappingers Falls · 1,500 served | 49.9 | 3.3x over |
| 3 | Bolton Water District | Bolton Landing · 1,800 served | 49 | 3.3x over |
| 4 | Bedford Consolidated W.D. | Bedford Hills · 9,056 served | 46 | 3.1x over |
| 5 | North Castle Water District #1 | Armonk · 2,500 served | 42.6 | 2.8x over |
| 6 | Garden City (V) | Garden City · 23,272 served | 42.2 | 2.8x over |
| 7 | Herkimer Village | Herkimer · 7,606 served | 38 | 2.5x over |
| 8 | Ilion (V) Water Works | Ilion · 8,053 served | 36 | 2.4x over |
| 9 | Amsterdam (C) | Amsterdam · 20,700 served | 31.3 | 2.1x over |
| 10 | Cazenovia Village | Cazenovia · 2,900 served | 20 | 1.3x over |
| 11 | Saranac Lake V | Saranac Lake · 5,345 served | 18 | 1.2x over |
| 12 | Fonda (V) Water Works | Fonda · 1,080 served | 17 | 1.1x over |
Most EPA Violations in New York
Community water systems in New York with the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
| # | Water System | Location | Health-based violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tupper Lake V | Tupper Lake · 5,500 served | 57 |
| 2 | Catskill Village | Catskill · 8,000 served | 42 |
| 3 | Lowville Village | Lowville · 4,000 served | 26 |
| 4 | Sleepy Hollow Lake Water Co. | Athens · 2,000 served | 25 |
| 5 | Herkimer Village | Herkimer · 7,606 served | 24 |
| 6 | Pamelia Town Wd 4 & 5 | Watertown · 1,857 served | 22 |
| 7 | Whitehall Village | Whitehall · 2,800 served | 18 |
| 8 | North Castle Water District #4 | Armonk · 1,225 served | 18 |
| 9 | Watertown City | Watertown · 27,861 served | 17 |
| 10 | West Carthage Village | West Carthage · 1,734 served | 17 |
| 11 | North Castle Water District #2 | Armonk · 1,200 served | 16 |
| 12 | Carthage Village | Carthage · 3,600 served | 16 |
How This Report Card Is Built
PFAS rankings use EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), showing each system's peak detection above the 4 ppt EPA limit. Lead rankings use the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results. Violation counts come from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and count health-based violations. Lead and violation lists are limited to community water systems serving 1,000 or more people. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most PFAS-contaminated water system in New York?
In EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025), Brookhaven National Labs had the highest recorded PFAS level in New York at 122.5 ppt - about 31x the EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS.
Which New York water system has the highest lead levels?
Paul Smiths College in Paul Smiths had the highest 90th-percentile lead result in New York under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule at 610 ppb - 40.7x the 15 ppb action level.
Which New York water system has the most EPA violations?
Tupper Lake V in Tupper Lake has the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record in New York, with 57 violations.
Where does the New York water report card data come from?
PFAS figures come from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), lead from the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results, and violations from EPA SDWIS health-based violation records. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water. Check your exact address at knowyourexposure.com.
What New York Residents Should Do
- Look up your exact address at knowyourexposure.com for your system's data
- See the full New York water quality overview
- If your system is listed, a certified filter (reverse osmosis for PFAS, NSF-53 for lead) reduces exposure at the tap. See the best water filters.