Rochester, NY Tap Water Quality
What EPA data, PFAS monitoring, and independent health research reveals about Rochester's drinking water -- and what you can do about it.
Source: EPA UCMR5 national monitoring dataset · Testing period 2023–2025 · MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (legally enforceable limit) · Health limit = EPA health advisory threshold
Rochester draws from Lake Ontario -- which receives runoff from the Great Lakes basin.
Kodak's industrial legacy has left chemical contamination in Rochester's groundwater.
Rochester has significant lead service line infrastructure in its older neighborhoods.
RO filtration addresses lead, industrial chemicals, and DBPs for Rochester residents.
Rochester water meets EPA legal standards but meeting standards is not the same as being free of contaminants. EPA limits are set based on feasibility, not always on what is safest for health. Enter your ZIP above to see the full violation history and PFAS data for your specific water system.
Even compliant water can contain contaminants at levels above what independent health scientists consider safe -- particularly for PFAS, lead, and chromium-6. An EPA-certified RO system removes 95-99% of all detected contaminants and costs $0.10-$0.25 per gallon, compared to $1-$3 for bottled water.
For most US cities, a reverse osmosis system under the sink is the gold standard -- it removes lead, PFAS, arsenic, nitrates, fluoride, and virtually everything else. For renters, a Waterdrop D4 countertop RO requires zero installation. Enter your ZIP above to get personalized recommendations based on your actual water report.
As of October 2024, all US water utilities must publish a public inventory of their lead service lines — the pipes connecting the water main to your home. Even if your utility water tests clean at the treatment plant, lead can leach from these pipes into your tap. Homes built before 1986 are most at risk.
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City-wide data is just the start. Enter your ZIP to see your exact water system's EPA report, PFAS levels, and violation history.
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