Is New York Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Water quality data for 37 cities across New York. Find your city below.
Water quality in New York varies significantly from city to city. Across 37 cities we track, hardness ranges from 25 PPM in Long Island City to 162 PPM in Rochester, with a statewide average of 62 PPM. 7 of 37 cities have hard water above 120 PPM where a water softener provides measurable benefits.
4 New York cities have forever chemicals (PFAS) above the EPA's 2024 limit of 4 parts per trillion: Binghamton (19.55 ppt), Suffern (23.55 ppt), Colonie (8.3 ppt), Garden City (10.6 ppt). A reverse osmosis system or NSF P473-certified filter can reduce PFAS to safe levels.
Complete New York Guide
Statewide water quality overview, costs, and treatment recommendations.
Well Water in New York
Testing, treatment, and common issues for private wells.
Hardest Water Rankings
New York cities ranked by water hardness level.
City Treatment Guides
Sized recommendations based on each city's specific water data.
Buffalo
🧂 Best SoftenerNew York
🔬 Best FilterStaten Island
🔬 Best FilterLong Island City
🔬 Best FilterCity Comparisons
Rochester vs Long Island City
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Rochester vs Buffalo
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Buffalo vs Lockport
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
New York Cities by Water Hardness
| City | Hardness (PPM) | Level | PFAS (ppt) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | 162 | Hard | 0 | Hemlock Lake, Canadice Lake |
| Buffalo | 142 | Hard | 0 | Lake Erie, Niagara River |
| Lockport | 140 | Hard | 0 | Lake Ontario via Erie Canal |
| Webster | 130 | Hard | 0 | Lake Ontario |
| Rochester South | 130 | Hard | 0 | Lake Ontario + Hemlock Lake |
| Niagara Falls | 120 | Hard | 0 | Niagara River |
| Tonawanda | 120 | Hard | 0 | Niagara River |
| Ithaca | 110 | Moderately Hard | 0 | Six Mile Creek, reservoirs |
| Binghamton | 85 | Moderately Hard | 19.55 | Susquehanna River watershed |
| Downtown Syracuse | 85 | Moderately Hard | 0 | Skaneateles Lake |
| Middletown | 80 | Moderately Hard | 0 | Reservoirs and wells |
| Suffern | 60 | Moderately Hard | 23.55 | Ramapo River watershed |
| Schenectady | 57 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Mohawk River, Selfridge Reservoir |
| Utica | 51 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Hinckley Reservoir |
| Colonie | 50 | Slightly Hard | 8.3 | Albany County Water Supply |
| Yonkers | 45 | Slightly Hard | 0 | NYC system (Catskill/Delaware) |
| Mount Kisco | 45 | Slightly Hard | 3.1 | Surface water |
| Syracuse | 43 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Skaneateles Lake |
| White Plains | 40 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Kensico Reservoir |
| Poughkeepsie | 40 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Hudson River |
| Troy | 40 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Tomhannock Reservoir |
| Hicksville | 40 | Slightly Hard | 3.3 | Long Island Aquifer |
| Albany | 39 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Alcove Reservoir |
| Mount Vernon | 35 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Surface water (reservoirs) |
| Garden City | 35 | Slightly Hard | 10.6 | Long Island Aquifer |
| Huntington | 35 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Long Island Aquifer |
| Oceanside | 35 | Slightly Hard | 3.65 | Long Island Aquifer |
| Freeport | 35 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Long Island Aquifer |
| White Plains Downtown | 35 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Surface water (reservoirs) |
| Uniondale | 30 | Slightly Hard | 3.65 | Surface water (reservoirs) |
| Babylon | 30 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Long Island Aquifer |
| Hempstead | 30 | Slightly Hard | 3.65 | Long Island Aquifer |
| New Rochelle | 28 | Slightly Hard | 0 | NYC system reservoirs |
| New York | 25 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Surface water (reservoirs) |
| Brooklyn | 25 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Surface water (reservoirs) |
| Staten Island | 25 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Surface water (reservoirs) |
| Long Island City | 25 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Surface water (reservoirs) |