Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in SCHENECTADY (C), New York
Tap water in SCHENECTADY (C), New York receives a grade of F (51/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by SCHENECTADY CITY WATER WORKS. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in SCHENECTADY (C)'s tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving SCHENECTADY (C).
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 0.375 ppt, 375x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 8.3 ppb, 138x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromodichloromethane detected at 5.65 ppb, 94x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Recommended filters for SCHENECTADY (C)
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SCHENECTADY (C)'s water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in SCHENECTADY (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.375 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 375× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
8.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 138× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.65 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 94× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
13.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 86× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
3.57 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 34× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.75 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.95 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.05 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
3.1 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 10× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.52 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.55 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.9× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.075 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.8× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.445 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.2× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.23 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 2.6× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.009 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.5× over |
| Barium Heavy metal |
33.2 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0144 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.35 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.06 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.6 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.302 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.341 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.12 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.239 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.027 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.75 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from SCHENECTADY CITY WATER WORKS.