What contaminants are in ROCHESTER (C) tap water?

Public data sources identify the following contaminants in ROCHESTER (C)'s water supply: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Bromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate, Dibromoacetic acid, Nitrate and nitrite, Chlorate, Bromoform, Barium, Molybdenum, Manganese, Monochloroacetic acid, Vanadium, Endrin, Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA), Strontium, Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA), Fluoride, Lithium. Levels and comparison to EWG health guidelines are listed on the full city page.

Which water utility serves ROCHESTER (C)?

ROCHESTER (C) is served by ROCHESTER CITY and 1 other water systems. ROCHESTER CITY serves approximately 210,000 residents.

Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in ROCHESTER (C), New York

Q: Is the tap water in ROCHESTER (C), New York safe to drink?

ROCHESTER (C)'s tap water receives a grade of D (60/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline, Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline, PFAS contamination, Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline. Grades are based on EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database, and the utility's published Consumer Confidence Report.

Served by 2 public water systems. 978,458 residents.

Average score 60/100

Utilities 2

Population 978,458

60/100

Below Average

ⓘ How did we get this rating?

Quick answer

Tap water in ROCHESTER (C), New York receives a grade of D (60/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 2 public water systems, primarily ROCHESTER CITY. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; PFAS contamination; Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?

What's in ROCHESTER (C)'s tap water

Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utilities serving ROCHESTER (C).

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 35.0 ppb, 584x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 48.4 ppb, 323x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 28.5 ppb, 285x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.

Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Bromodichloromethane detected at 9.62 ppb, 160x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Water systems serving ROCHESTER (C)

ROCHESTER (C) is served by 2 public water systems. Click any utility to see its complete grade card and treatment plant contact info.

65/100

ROCHESTER CITY

Serves 210,000 residents

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

View full grade card →

55/100

MCWA

Serves 768,458 residents

PFAS contamination
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

View full grade card →

Recommended filters for ROCHESTER (C)

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in ROCHESTER (C)'s water supply.

Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

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All contaminants detected in ROCHESTER (C)'s tap water

Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct	35.0 ppb	0.06	—	—	—	—	—	584× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct	48.4 ppb	0.15	80.0	100	—	—	—	323× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct	28.5 ppb	0.1	60.0	60	—	—	—	285× over
Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct	10.1 ppb	0.06	—	—	—	—	—	168× over
Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct	14.4 ppb	0.1	—	—	—	—	—	144× over
Chloroform Disinfection byproduct	35.7 ppb	0.4	—	—	—	—	—	89× over
Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct	13.5 ppb	0.2	—	—	—	—	—	67× over
Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct	3.65 ppb	0.1	—	—	—	—	—	37× over
Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological	1.15 pCi/L	0.05	5.0	—	—	—	—	23× over
Bromochloromethane Other	0.433 ppb	0.06	—	—	—	—	—	7.2× over
Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal	0.141 ppb	0.02	—	—	—	—	—	7.1× over
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS	0.584 ppt	0.09	4.0	100	100	0.007	—	6.5× over
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS	1.11 ppt	0.3	4.0	100	100	1	—	3.7× over
Nitrate Inorganic	0.295 ppm	0.14	10.0	11.3	11.3	10	—	2.1× over
Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct	0.0287 ppb	0.03	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic	0.123 ppm	0.14	10.0	11.3	11.3	10	—	Below guideline
Chlorate Disinfection byproduct	125.0 ppb	210.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Bromoform Disinfection byproduct	0.23 ppb	0.5	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Barium Heavy metal	21.2 ppb	700.0	2000.0	—	1300	2000	—	Below guideline
Molybdenum Other	0.938 ppb	40.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Manganese Heavy metal	1.17 ppb	100.0	—	50	80	—	—	Below guideline
Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct	0.607 ppb	53.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Vanadium Other	0.239 ppb	21.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Endrin Other	0.00198 ppb	0.3	2.0	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS	0.792 ppt	1000.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Strontium Radiological	0.169 ppb	1500.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS	0.042 ppt	1000.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Fluoride Inorganic	0.7 ppm	—	4.0	1.5	1.5	—	—	Below guideline
Lithium Other	0.672 ppb	—	—	—	—	—	—	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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.