States › Connecticut

Connecticut Tap Water Quality 2026

EPA drinking water data for 170 cities across Connecticut — covering lead levels, violation history, and compliance status.

Systems tracked: 102 Cities covered: 170 Updated: 2026 Q2
B

Connecticut earns a B for overall water quality

170 communities across 8 counties and 102 water systems. 92.9% have no open violations.

Median lead where detected: 1.90 ppb
61.8% of systems report lead as not detected — a state filing convention, not a water quality measure
PFAS tested at 69.4% of communities; 57 above the federal limit
Lead reported for 100.0% of communities
92.9% of communities have no open violations
Water Systems
102
Active community systems
Median Lead Level
1.9 ppb
13% of EPA action level
Fully Compliant
92.9%
of systems — no active violations
How we grade states Grades are based on actual EPA enforcement data — MCL violations and lead levels measured against the 15 ppb federal action level. We do not use MCLG-based detections, which are aspirational zero-tolerance goals that would make nearly every state look dangerous. Read our full methodology →

Best & Worst Cities in Connecticut

✓ Cleanest Water
Bridgeport
Fairfield County
0.0 ppb A
Stamford
Fairfield County
0.0 ppb A
New Britain
Hartford County
0.0 ppb A
Fairfield
Fairfield County
0.0 ppb A
Greenwich
Fairfield County
0.0 ppb A
Stratford
Fairfield County
0.0 ppb A
⚠ Needs Attention
Barkhamsted
Litchfield County
0.0 ppb D
Ridgefield
Fairfield County
3.1 ppb D
Meriden
New Haven County
0.0 ppb D
Norwich
New London County
0.0 ppb D
Bethel
Fairfield County
1.4 ppb D
Bozrah
New London County
0.0 ppb D

Water Quality by County

8 of 8
Sort:
CountySystemsLead LevelViolationsGrade
New Haven County 28 0.9 ppb 0 C
Hartford County 28 1.9 ppb 0 B
Litchfield County 27 2.0 ppb 0 A
Fairfield County 25 2.0 ppb 0 A
New London County 21 1.7 ppb 0 B
Middlesex County 15 1.6 ppb 0 B
Windham County 14 1.8 ppb 0 C
Tolland County 12 1.9 ppb 0 C

About Connecticut Drinking Water

Connecticut is served by 102 community water systems covering 170 communities across 8 counties. 92.9% have no open violation on record.

Lead was detected in 65 communities, with a median of 1.90 ppb — 13% of the federal action level. A further 105 reported none detected. That share is a state reporting convention rather than a measure of water quality, so it is stated separately rather than averaged in.

PFAS has been tested at 69.4% of communities here, and 57 are above the limits EPA set in 2024. Coverage matters: states that test more find more, so this figure is not comparable with a state that has tested less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Connecticut tap water safe to drink? ▼
92.9% of communities have no open violation on record. 57 have PFAS above the federal limit set in 2024, which is the main open concern.
Does Connecticut have a lead problem? ▼
7 water systems report a 90th-percentile lead result at or above the 15 ppb action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and 105 communities report no detection at all.
How complete is the data for Connecticut? ▼
Lead results are reported for 100.0% of communities and PFAS for 69.4%. Where a figure is missing it is shown as not reported rather than assumed safe.
How does Connecticut compare with other states? ▼
We do not rank states against each other. Lead reporting completeness ranges from under 20% to 100% depending on the state, so a national ranking would compare filing practice rather than water quality.