What was found in Rochester's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 1900 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 910 µg/L 9.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 449 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 390 µg/L 3.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 104 µg/L 130% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 71 µg/L No EPA limit set | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 49 µg/L 82% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 9/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 47 µg/L No EPA limit set | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 26 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/10 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 24 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 20 µg/L No EPA limit set | 9/10 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 12.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 12 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/10 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 5.2 pCi/L 104% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 pCi/L | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/10 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.8 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.5 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.6 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 2.21 µg/L 7.4% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 2.2 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1.89 pCi/L 13% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.9000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.8000 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.3000 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.0740 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0190 mg/L 127% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L | 10/10 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Rochester
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| MCWA | 525,262 |
| ROCHESTER CITY | 210,000 |
| HUDSON VALLEY RESORT & SPA | 265 |
| SYLVAN GLADES W.C. | 89 |
| LUCAS ESTATES WATER COMPANY | 70 |
| STREAMSIDE ESTATES | 67 |
| ZOLOTA OSIN INC | 50 |
| WILLBE MHP | 45 |
| HILLSIDE MOBILE HOME PARK | 42 |
| HIDDEN FOREST ESTATES MHP | 40 |
Frequently asked questions about Rochester tap water
Is Rochester tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Rochester. 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 Rochester?
10 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Rochester, New York to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Rochester's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Rochester include Fluoride, Nitrate, Barium, Nitrate-Nitrite, TTHM. The full list, with the highest level found 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.