What was found in Potsdam's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 260 µg/L 2.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5100 µg/L — SNELLS COMPLEX · 25 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 700 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 11.5 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 230.9 µg/L — SNELLS COMPLEX · 25 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Oxamyl | 200 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: SNELLS COMPLEX · 25 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 97.2 µg/L 122% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 94.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 79 µg/L 132% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 46.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Carbofuran | 40 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit 40 µg/L Highest in the city: SNELLS COMPLEX · 25 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 35.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 0.6400 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.57 µg/L — GARDEN PLACE ESTATES · 25 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 13.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SNELLS COMPLEX · 25 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.442 µg/L — GARDEN PLACE ESTATES · 25 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.79 µg/L — SNELLS COMPLEX · 25 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 7.68 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.525 µg/L — SNELLS COMPLEX · 25 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 6.5 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GARDEN PLACE ESTATES · 25 people · 2014 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4.6 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: POTSDAM WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 · 220 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.965 µg/L 5.9% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: GARDEN PLACE ESTATES · 25 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.175 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.4 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: GARDEN PLACE ESTATES · 25 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.3 pCi/L 26% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: GARDEN PLACE ESTATES · 25 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0078 mg/L 52% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: POTSDAM VILLAGE · 8,312 people · 2024 | 5/5 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Potsdam
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| POTSDAM VILLAGE | 8,312 |
| POTSDAM WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 | 220 |
| CRESCENT MEADOW APT COMMUNITY | 30 |
| GARDEN PLACE ESTATES | 25 |
| SNELLS COMPLEX | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Potsdam tap water
Is Potsdam tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Potsdam. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Potsdam?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Potsdam, New York to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Potsdam's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Potsdam include Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium, Oxamyl, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.