Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM
NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM delivers tap water graded D (57/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 8,271,000 residents in NEW YORK (C), New York using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline.
Is NEW YORK (C) tap water safe to drink?
NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (57/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including haloacetic acids (haa9) significantly above health guideline.
The utility serves 8,271,000 residents in NEW YORK (C), drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 11 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite. 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 NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM (system ID NY7003493) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment not met | 02/01/2017 | 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 NEW YORK (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 NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 53.5 ppb, 892x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 38.2 ppb, 382x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 38.8 ppb, 259x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM
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 NEW YORK (C)
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
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 57/100 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 |
53.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 892× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
38.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 382× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
38.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 259× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
24.0 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 240× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
34.3 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 86× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.35 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 72× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.0 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 70× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0413 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.119 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.161 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.1× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.148 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.1× over |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
12.6 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
21.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
18.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
15.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.00357 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene Other |
0.00625 ppb | 2.0 | 50.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.16 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.802 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
20.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.357 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.721 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.
NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Richmond County, New York. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for NEW YORK (C) water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.