Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Hartford, CT tap water
17 contaminants were measured in the Hartford, CT water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 17
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- pH
- Service area
- CT
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Hartford, CT's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 8 sources.
Source
- WEST HARTFORD RESERVOIR · 4
- RESERVOIR · 2
- BARKHAMSTED RESERVOIR
- NEPAUG RESERVOIR
Treatment
- RESERVOIR #6 WATER TREATMENT PLANT
- WEST HARTFORD WTP (LARGE BASIN)
- WEST HARTFORD WTP (SMALL BASIN)
- + 1 more
Distribution
Also buys water from NEW BRITAIN WATER DEPARTMENT, CTWC - NORTHERN REG-WESTERN SYSTEM, and 1 more.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
2 contaminants historically over EPA limits in Hartford, CT
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
TTHM worst: 2012 | 0.16 mg/L 2.0× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2012 | 0.0762 mg/L 1.3× | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
RADIUM 226 228 worst: 2018 | 1.48 pCi/L within below national p90 | 5 pCi/L | '18 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2015 | 1.06 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BERYLLIUM worst: 2012 | 0.000634 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.004 mg/L | '12 |
MERCURY worst: 2018 | 0.0002 mg/L within | 0.002 mg/L | '18 |
NITRATE worst: 2014 | 0.243 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2014 | 0.243 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BARIUM worst: 2015 | 0.02 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'19 |
MBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0632 mg/L | — | '12'13 |
COPPER worst: 2012 | 0.014 mg/L below national p90 | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'19 |
LEAD worst: 2013 | 0.00023 mg/L | — | '13'14'17'19 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.00819 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MCAA worst: 2013 | 0.00208 mg/L | — | '13'18 |
TCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0334 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0123 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.15 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2013 | 0.00051 mg/L | — | '13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 7.43AverageSystem-wide | 6.4MCLG | At or above the limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.08 NTUAverageSystem-wide | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 14 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 45–54RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 9.64 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 250 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitriteA compound from fertilizer runoff, sewage, and erosion of natural deposits. | Not detected mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 1 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 5.2AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0AverageSystem-wide | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Hartford, CT's water
+Is Hartford, CT tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Hartford, CT water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: pH. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Hartford, CT tap water?
17 contaminants were measured in Hartford, CT's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning inorganic chemicals, metals, and physical & aggregate. 13 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Hartford, CT tap water?
One contaminant in Hartford, CT's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: pH (1.2× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Hartford, CT tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is pH, at 1.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the physical & aggregate family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Hartford, CT's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Hartford, CT's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.