Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
SCHENECTADY CITY WATER WORKS
SCHENECTADY CITY WATER WORKS delivers tap water graded D (62/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 61,821 residents in SCHENECTADY (C), New York using groundwater. 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.
Is SCHENECTADY (C) tap water safe to drink?
SCHENECTADY CITY WATER WORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (62/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 61,821 residents in SCHENECTADY (C), drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Bromodichloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dibromochloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Nitrate, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate and nitrite, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). 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 SCHENECTADY CITY WATER WORKS (system ID NY4600070) 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 SCHENECTADY (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 SCHENECTADY CITY WATER WORKS.
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.
Contact SCHENECTADY CITY WATER WORKS
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 SCHENECTADY (C)
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 62/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
SCHENECTADY CITY WATER WORKS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Schenectady County, New York. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SCHENECTADY (C) water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.