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New York Water Quality
883
Utilities in database
18.3M
Residents served
25%
On private wells
3
Key contaminants tracked
Drinking Water in New York
New York has 883 community water systems serving approximately 18.3 million residents. Primary water sources include surface water. The most commonly reported contaminants include disinfection byproducts, lead, nitrates. 25% of New York residents rely on private wells. NYSDOH holds primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Utilities in New York
Top 20 of 883 by populationNew York City System
NY7003493 · 8,271,000 served
Suffolk County Water Authority
NY5110526 · 1,100,000 served
Mcwa
NY2701047 · 768,458 served
Ocwa
NY3304336 · 350,000 served
Ecwa Direct
NY1400443 · 313,380 served
Buffalo Water Authority
NY1400422 · 276,000 served
Veolia Water New York
NY4303673 · 270,000 served
Liberty Utilities New York - Lynbrook
NY2902835 · 220,000 served
Yonkers City
NY5903465 · 211,569 served
Rochester City
NY2704518 · 210,000 served
Syracuse City
NY3304334 · 192,000 served
Veolia Water New York, Inc. Rd-1
NY5903444 · 146,732 served
Liberty Utilities New York - Merrick
NY2902840 · 135,000 served
Mvwa - Mohawk Valley Water Authority
NY3202411 · 126,250 served
Wa of Western Nassau
NY2902830 · 120,000 served
Town of Hempstead Water Department
NY2900000 · 110,000 served
Albany City
NY0100189 · 98,000 served
Ecwa Amherst
NY1400399 · 92,697 served
Latham Water District
NY0100198 · 85,590 served
South Huntington Water District
NY5103263 · 81,760 served
Key Contaminant Concerns in New York
Lead
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that was widely used in plumbing infrastructure until it was banned for new installations in 1986. An estimated 9.2 million lead service lines still connect homes to public water mains across the United States, along with millions of homes with lead solder in their internal plumbing.
Nitrates
Nitrate (NO₃⁻) is a nitrogen-containing compound that forms naturally through the decomposition of organic matter. At elevated concentrations — almost always from human activity — nitrate interferes with the blood's ability to carry oxygen. The United States produces over 23 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer annually, making agricultural runoff the dominant source of nitrate contamination.
DBPs
When utilities add chlorine to water to kill pathogens, it reacts with dissolved organic matter — leaves, algae, soil — to produce disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Over 600 DBPs have been identified. The EPA regulates two groups: total trihalomethanes (TTHMs, including chloroform) and haloacetic acids (HAA5). DBP levels tend to be highest in surface water systems and in warm months when organic matter is elevated.
New York Water FAQs
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Data source: Utility data from EPA SDWIS. 883 active community water systems ingested. CCR contaminant data ingestion in progress.
Last updated: 2026-04-17