Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Albany, NY tap water
25 contaminants were measured in the Albany, NY water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 25
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Turbidity
- Service area
- NY
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Albany, NY's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 2 sources.
Source
- BASIC CREEK RESERVOIR
- ALCOVE RESERVOIR
Treatment
- FEURA BUSH WTP
- LOUDONVILLE UV SYSTEM
Distribution
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
1 contaminant historically over EPA limits in Albany, NY
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: 2017 | 0.0836 mg/L 1.0× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2018 | 0.043 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2018 | 0.1 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '18 |
CHROMIUM worst: 2014 | 0.001 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.1 mg/L | '14 |
NITRATE worst: 2017 | 0.05 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '17'18 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2017 | 0.05 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '17 |
BARIUM worst: 2016 | 0.0057 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '13'14'15'16'18 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0074 mg/L | — | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0041 mg/L | — | '12'16'17'18 |
TCAA worst: 2012 | 0.018 mg/L | — | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.013 mg/L | — | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.063 mg/L | — | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.00063 mg/L | — | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.52–9.28 NTUReported levelSystem-wide | 5 NTUMCL | At or above the limit |
| OdorA measure of detectable smell in the water. | 1.83–3Reported levelSystem-wide | 3MCL | At or above the limit |
| ColorA measure of visible tint in the water. | 3.82–8Reported levelSystem-wide | 15MCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 45.6–50.8 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 48.1–57.8 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.73–1.99 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 2 ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Perfluorohexanoic acidPerfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.46 ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoropentanoic acidPerfluoropentanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.32 ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.68 ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 0.68 ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0–129.2Reported levelSystem-wide | 300MCL | Within the limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 14.9–50.8Reported levelSystem-wide | 300MCL | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 38–95.7Reported levelSystem-wide | 1300MCLG | Within the limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 17 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 10.6–27.6Reported levelSystem-wide | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 14 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.081–1.6 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 0–1.2 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 0–1.8 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 50 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
People also ask about Albany, NY's water
+Is Albany, NY tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Albany, NY water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Turbidity and Odor. 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 Albany, NY tap water?
25 contaminants were measured in Albany, NY's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and pfas ("forever chemicals"). 15 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 Albany, NY tap water?
2 contaminants in Albany, NY's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Turbidity (1.9× the limit); Odor (1.0× 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 Albany, NY tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Turbidity, at 1.9× 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 Albany, NY'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 Albany, NY'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.