Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

SUFFOLK COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY

Serving 1,100,000 residents in SMITHTOWN (T), New York and 8 other communities.

National rank 44th percentile
New York rank 50th percentile
Data confidence Medium
D
62/100
Below Average
ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Quick answer

SUFFOLK COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY delivers tap water graded D (62/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 1,100,000 residents in SMITHTOWN (T), New York using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 631-563-0258.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?
1,100,000
People served
9
Cities served
25
Contaminants detected
8
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)

Is SMITHTOWN (T) tap water safe to drink?

SUFFOLK COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY 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 1,100,000 residents in SMITHTOWN (T) and 8 other communities, drawing from groundwater.

Public testing data identifies 8 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Chromium (hexavalent), 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). 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.

Top concerns in this water

Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SUFFOLK COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), 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 concern

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.227 ppt, 227x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 8.3 ppb, 55x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 1.33 ppb, 22x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Contact SUFFOLK COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY

Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.

Recommended water filters for SMITHTOWN (T)

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

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 →

Health Guideline Performance
21 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
3 / 20
Compliance History
10 / 10
Source Water Vulnerability
8 / 10

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
0.227 ppt 0.001 10.0 227× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
8.3 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 55× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
1.33 ppb 0.06 22× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.414 ppb 0.02 21× over
1,2,3-Trichloropropane
Other
0.0126 ppb 0.0007 18× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
1.15 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 11× over
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
PFAS
0.024 ppt 0.006 10.0 4.0× over
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
PFAS
0.234 ppt 0.09 4.0 100 100 0.007 2.6× over
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
PFAS
0.2 ppt 0.3 4.0 100 100 1 Below guideline
1,4-Dioxane
Semi-volatile organic compound
0.218 ppb 0.35 50 1 Below guideline
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
57.8 ppb 210.0 Below guideline
6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA)
Other
0.09 ppt 1.0 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
7.29 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
1,1-Dichloroethane
Volatile organic compound
0.142 ppb 3.0 Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
0.206 ppb 21.0 Below guideline
Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)
PFAS
0.935 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Cobalt
Other
0.0581 ppb 70.0 Below guideline
Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)
PFAS
0.747 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)
PFAS
0.14 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Molybdenum
Other
0.0028 ppb 40.0 Below guideline
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)
PFAS
0.057 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.0505 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)
PFAS
0.049 ppt 2000.0 Below guideline
Chlorodifluoromethane
Other
0.00778 ppb Below guideline
Germanium
Other
0.0162 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.

About this water system

Public Water System ID
NY5110526
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Groundwater
Service connections
336,418
Service area
SMITHTOWN (T), Suffolk County, New York