Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY
BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 276,000 residents in BUFFALO (C), New York using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 716-851-4766.
Is BUFFALO (C) tap water safe to drink?
BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 276,000 residents in BUFFALO (C), drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Arsenic, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY (system ID NY1400422) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Missed reporting | 10/17/2024 | Open |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 07/01/2024 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for BUFFALO (C) residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.4 ppt, 400x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 22.3 ppb, 372x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 38.9 ppb, 259x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.267 ppb.
Contact BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for BUFFALO (C)
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 55/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.4 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 400× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
22.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 372× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
38.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 259× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
18.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 183× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 178× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
8.32 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 83× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.267 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 67× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
24.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 60× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.16 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 46× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.71 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 37× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.411 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.981 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 11× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.07 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.5× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.04 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.5× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.16 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.1× over |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.8 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.325 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.09 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
12.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.34 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.336 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0941 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.758 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.187 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.159 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.175 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0767 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY service area
This water system serves 1 community in Erie County, New York. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for BUFFALO (C) water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.