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Watertown, NY Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Watertown City PWSID: NY2202346 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 6.30 ppb, 42% of the action level and no violations are open. PFAS was detected below the federal limit.

B

Watertown earns a B for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 6.30 ppb — 42% of the federal action level
PFAS detected below the federal limit
13 violations since 2015, 13 health-based
No violations currently open
Watertown's lead level vs. all New York community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 6.30 ppb — 42% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 16% of New York utilities
Population Served
24308
~8000 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
13 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
42% of EPA action level
6.30 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 6.30 ppb, 42% 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
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2025 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 88.9 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2022 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 89.9 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2021 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 82.6 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 62.6 UG/L 0.060 mg/L 2020 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 84.8 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 64 UG/L 0.060 mg/L 2018 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 90.5 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 77.2 UG/L 0.060 mg/L 2017 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 83.3 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2017 Archived
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 60.4 UG/L 0.060 mg/L 2017 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 82.2 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2017 Archived
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 80.8 UG/L 0.080 mg/L 2017 Archived
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

13 violations are on record since 2015, of which 13 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Watertown City
PWSID NY2202346
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 24,308
Service connections 8,000
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Watertown tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 6.30 ppb, 42% of the action level.
Does Watertown water have PFAS? ▼
PFAS was detected but stayed below the federal limit.
Who supplies water to Watertown? ▼
Watertown City (PWSID NY2202346). Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2022-09-14. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Watertown Residents Do?

1
Consider a filter certified for lead
Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.
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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