Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Rochester, NY tap water
26 contaminants were measured in the Rochester, NY 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
- 26
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Lead
- Service area
- NY
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0–107 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0 ug/LMCLG | At or above the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.022–0.024 mg/LAverageOntario | 2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0–1.15 ug/LAverageOntario | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 290–4 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 52–82 ug/LAverageOntario | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 35–38 mg/LAverageOntario | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 8.9–9.5 mg/LAverageOntario | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 1.5–1.6 mg/LAverageOntario | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SilicaA naturally occurring compound from sand and rock. | 0–0.7 mg/LAverageOntario | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 20 mg/LAverageHemlock | 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. | 0–2.2 ng/LAverageOntario | 4 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 25 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 13 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.96–1.23 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.69–0.93 mg/LAverageOntario | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.26–0.42 mg/LAverageOntario | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 37 mg/LAverageHemlock | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 26–26 mg/LAverageOntario | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 1.11 pCi/LAverageHemlock | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 1.2 %MaximumSystem-wide | 0 %MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 91–91 mg/LAverageOntario | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 123–130 mg/LAverageOntario | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 7.8–8.1AverageHemlock | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 302–330 uS/cmAverageOntario | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2.4–2.46 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 178–180 mg/LAverageOntario | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Rochester, NY's water
+Is Rochester, NY tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Rochester, NY water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: Lead. 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 Rochester, NY tap water?
26 contaminants were measured in Rochester, NY's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and inorganic chemicals. 8 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 Rochester, NY tap water?
One contaminant in Rochester, NY's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: Lead (7.1× 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 Rochester, NY tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Lead, at 7.1× the federal threshold. It belongs to the metals family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Rochester, 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 Rochester, 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.