Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
LATHAM WATER DISTRICT
LATHAM WATER DISTRICT delivers tap water graded C (66/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 85,590 residents in COLONIE (T), New York using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 518-786-7338.
Is COLONIE (T) tap water safe to drink?
LATHAM WATER DISTRICT delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (66/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 85,590 residents in COLONIE (T), drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chlorite, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate, Chlorate. 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 LATHAM WATER DISTRICT (system ID NY0100198) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
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 COLONIE (T) residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for LATHAM WATER DISTRICT.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 36.7 ppb, 611x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 32.3 ppb, 323x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 48.3 ppb, 322x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact LATHAM WATER DISTRICT
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 COLONIE (T)
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.
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 66/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
36.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 611× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
32.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 323× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
48.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 322× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
9.79 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 163× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
15.6 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 156× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
35.7 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 89× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.9 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 65× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.77 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 28× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.365 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.57 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Chlorite Disinfection byproduct |
319.2 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 6.4× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0904 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.5× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.04 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.5× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.345 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.5× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
243.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Barium Heavy metal |
120.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.27 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.6 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.01 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.17 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.11 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.689 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.25 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.273 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.128 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0367 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.
LATHAM WATER DISTRICT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Albany County, New York. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for COLONIE (T) water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.