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Essex, NY Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Essex, NY — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Essex's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Essex Wd PWSID: NY1500278 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 4.80 ppb, 32% of the action level and no violations are open. PFAS has never been sampled at this system.

B

Essex earns a B for water quality

Graded on violations and lead, with state inspection findings. PFAS not tested.

Lead: 4.80 ppb — 32% of the federal action level
PFAS never sampled at this system
26 violations since 2015, 14 health-based
No violations currently open
Essex's lead level vs. all New York community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 4.80 ppb — 32% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 24% of New York utilities
Population Served
28
~170 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
26 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
32% of EPA action level
4.80 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 4.80 ppb, 32% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 81.4 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2020 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 99.6 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2020 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 102.8 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2020 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 95 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2020 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 87.4 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2019 Resolved
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2018 Resolved
Arsenic MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.010 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Barium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 2 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Cadmium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Chromium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2017 Resolved
CYANIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.2 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Fluoride MONITORING AND REPORTING — 4.0 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Mercury MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Nickel MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2017 Resolved
Antimony, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.006 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Beryllium, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.004 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Thallium, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Selenium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.05 mg/L 2017 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 84.9 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2016 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 97.8 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2016 Resolved
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2016 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 108 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2016 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 121 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2015 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 114 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2015 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 110 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2015 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 103 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2015 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

26 violations are on record since 2015, of which 14 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Essex Wd
PWSID NY1500278
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 28
Service connections 170
Systems serving this area 2
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Essex tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 4.80 ppb, 32% of the action level.
Does Essex water have PFAS? ▼
This system has never been sampled for PFAS. EPA's national monitoring covered systems serving 3,300 people or more, so no results exist — which is not evidence that none is present.
Who supplies water to Essex? ▼
Essex Wd (PWSID NY1500278), one of 2 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-07-28. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Essex Residents Do?

1
Read your annual water report
Your supplier publishes a Consumer Confidence Report each July covering the prior year.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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