Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
MCWA
MCWA delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 768,458 residents in WHEATLAND (T), New York using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 585-442-2001.
Is WHEATLAND (T) tap water safe to drink?
MCWA 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 768,458 residents in WHEATLAND (T) and 32 other communities, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 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.
Quick actions for WHEATLAND (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 MCWA.
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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 21.1 ppb, 351x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 37.8 ppb, 252x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromodichloromethane detected at 9.62 ppb, 160x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact MCWA
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 WHEATLAND (T)
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
21.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 351× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
37.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 252× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
9.62 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 160× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
11.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 114× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.85 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 68× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
24.2 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 61× 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 |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.42 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 22× 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 |
| 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 |
| Vanadium Other |
0.239 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Endrin Other |
0.00198 ppb | 0.3 | 2.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.116 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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 |
0.605 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
MCWA service area
This water system serves 33 communities in Orleans County, New York. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for WHEATLAND (T) water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.