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Albany County, NY Water Quality

Water quality data for 12 public water systems serving Albany County, New York — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 12 water systems · 12 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

Albany County Earns a B

Albany County: 12 communities across 12 water systems. 91.7% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 1.65 ppb
  • 12 communities with a lead detection, 0 reporting none detected
  • 0 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 6 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 91.7% of communities have no open violations
1.65 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
12
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
91%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Colonie
    2.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Berne
    1.10 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Knox
    1.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Coeymans
    1.00 ppb
    1 health-based violation since 2015
    A
  • New Scotland
    6.00 ppb
    Lead at 6.00 ppb, above a third of the action level
    A
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Green Island
    2.60 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Bethlehem
    1.02 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    C
  • Watervliet
    2.00 ppb
    3 significant inspection deficiencies
    C
  • Westerlo
    1.00 ppb
    2 significant inspection deficiencies
    C
  • Albany
    13.00 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
County Lead Level — Median 1.65 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 1.65 ppb — 11% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
10
5 – 10 ppb
1
10 – 15 ppb
1

All Cities in Albany County

Albany 13.00 ppb B
Colonie 2.00 ppb A
Bethlehem 1.02 ppb C
Guilderland 2.80 ppb B
Cohoes 1.30 ppb B
Watervliet 2.00 ppb C
Coeymans 1.00 ppb A
New Scotland 6.00 ppb A
Green Island 2.60 ppb D
Berne 1.10 ppb B
Westerlo 1.00 ppb C
Knox 1.00 ppb B
Showing 12 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Albany County Drinking Water

Albany County is served by 12 water systems covering 12 communities. 92% have no open violations.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 12 recorded a detection, with a median of 1.65 ppb — 11% of the federal action level. 0 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

No community here has PFAS above the federal limit on record. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 6 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Albany County tap water safe to drink?▼
92% of communities have no open violation. No community has PFAS above the federal limit on record.
What is the lead level in Albany County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 1.65 ppb, 11% of the 15 ppb action level. 0 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Albany County?▼
12 community water systems serve 12 communities here.
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