01The verdict: is Clifton Springs (V) water safe?
Clifton Springs (V)'s tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of B+ (83/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,190 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
Copper is over its legal limit
Measured at 1.40 mg/L against the EPA Action Level of 1.3 mg/L. The ledger below shows how far over — and which filter removes it.
See the measurement ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 1.8 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓A flood-prone service area
5 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Clifton Springs (V)'s drinking water received a grade of B+ (83 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,190 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 1.8 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 1 violation on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
Clifton Springs (V) ranks #496 out of 810 cities in New York for water quality, placing it below average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Clifton Springs (V) may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Clifton Springs (V)'s water
Every contaminant flagged in Clifton Springs (V), on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Over Limit — EPA Action Level: 1.3 mg/L
Exceeds the EPA action level. Copper leaches from household plumbing — flush taps for 30 seconds before drinking, and consider a certified filter.Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 1.8 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
| Copper (90th percentile) CopperInorganic A metal that enters drinking water mainly through corrosion of copper plumbing. Small amounts are essential for health, but excess levels are harmful. Health EffectsGastrointestinal distress (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) at short-term high levels; liver and kidney damage from long-term exposure. EPA Limit1.3 mg/L action level Common SourcesCorrosion of copper household plumbing, erosion of natural deposits. | 1.40 | 1.3 | mg/L | Inorganic | Over Limit |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in New York
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in New York
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Clifton Springs (V)'s ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 1 violation on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Clifton Springs (V).
▼ Down 3.7 ppb since 2002. Latest reading: 1.8 ppb (2024) — 12% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
▼ Down 0.20 mg/L since 2011. The latest reading (1.4 mg/L, 2012) is over the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Clifton Springs (V)'s water comes from
Clifton Springs (V)'s drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
2,190 people
Residents served across Clifton Springs (V)'s service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 2,190 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLIFTON SPRINGS VILLAGE | NY3401154 | 2,190 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near Clifton Springs (V)
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Clifton Springs (V)'s drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Clifton Springs (V)'s watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
5 federal disaster declarations on record for Ontario County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Clifton Springs (V) compares
Scores for nearby New York cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = New York average (78/100)
Clifton Springs (V) scores 83/100 — on par with the New York average of 78/100. It outscores 6 of 10 nearby cities. Full New York rankings →
89 / 100CBrookhaven (T), NY
60.9 / 100AEast Hampton (T), NY
85.1 / 100BIslip (T), NY
71.8 / 100BSmithtown (T), NY
84.8 / 100BSouthampton (T), NY
78.8 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Clifton Springs (V)'s water — not generic advice.
Filter drinking & cooking water
Basic carbon filter for extra protection. Copper exceeds the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Clifton Springs (V) alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Clifton Springs (V), NY tap water safe to drink?
Clifton Springs (V)'s water quality earned a grade of B+ (83/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #496 out of 810 cities tested in New York.
What contaminants are in Clifton Springs (V)'s water?
Lead was measured at 1.8 ppb (90th percentile). 1 violation is on record.
How is Clifton Springs (V)'s water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Clifton Springs (V)?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Clifton Springs (V)'s water come from?
Clifton Springs (V)'s water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 2,190 residents.
How does Clifton Springs (V)'s water compare to other cities?
Clifton Springs (V) ranks #496 out of 810 cities in New York (better than 39% of state cities) and #6596 out of 15382 cities nationally (57th percentile). The grade of B+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Clifton Springs (V)'s small water system affect quality?
Clifton Springs (V)'s system serves approximately 2,190 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 1 violation on record.