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Rochester, NY Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Rochester City PWSID: NY2704518 Updated: 2026 Q2
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1 violation currently open

Lead is 6.80 ppb, 45% of the action level. No PFAS was detected.

D

Rochester earns a D for water quality

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

Lead: 6.80 ppb — 45% of the federal action level
PFAS tested, none detected
1 violations since 2015, 1 health-based
1 violation currently open
Rochester's lead level vs. all New York community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 6.80 ppb — 45% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 15% of New York utilities
Population Served
209538
~62000 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
1
1 open of 1 since 2015

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
45% of EPA action level
6.80 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 6.80 ppb, 45% 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
Lead and Copper Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — TT 2025 Unaddressed
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

1 violation remains open, out of 1 recorded since 2015 (1 health-based).

About the Main Water System

Utility Rochester City
PWSID NY2704518
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 209,538
Service connections 62,000
Systems serving this area 3
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rochester tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. 1 violation(s) remain open. Lead is 6.80 ppb, 45% of the action level.
Does Rochester water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Rochester? ▼
Rochester City (PWSID NY2704518), one of 3 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 2025-12-08. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Rochester 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
Follow the open violation
This system has an unresolved violation. Contact the supplier for its corrective-action schedule.

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