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WaterVerge

Water quality report · updated Jul 2026

Is Newstead (T), NY Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded B, with 1 unresolved violation on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do ↓

0 contaminants over a legal limit
9.8 ppb lead, 90th percentile
1 unresolved violation
5K people served by 1 water system

PWSID NY1422651 · moderate data confidence · local government utility

Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated July 2026
B 78.9 / 100

#570 of 810New York cities
How we grade →

01The verdict: is Newstead (T) water safe?

Newstead (T)'s tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of B (78.9/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 5,319 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).

The concern

1 unresolved violation on record

EPA records show an open compliance item for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.

See what was cited ↓
Context

5K people, 1 system

All figures on this page come from federal EPA compliance and testing data for the systems serving this city.

See the systems ↓
Stay informed

Check back after the next refresh

EPA data updates on a rolling basis; we fold in new samples and violations every month.

Get alerts ↓

Newstead (T)'s drinking water received a grade of B (78.9 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 5,319 residents using purchased surface water.

Lead levels were measured at 9.8 ppb (90th percentile), which is within EPA limits but above recommended levels. 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.

Newstead (T) ranks #570 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. While lead levels are within EPA limits, they are above the recommended 5 ppb threshold that health organizations consider ideal. A point-of-use filter adds an extra layer of protection.

How the 78.9/100 breaks down Methodology →
ViolationsHistorical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
44.9 / 45A
Lead & CopperLead at 9.8 ppb (90th percentile).
13 / 20C
ContaminantsPFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
17 / 20B
ComplianceMonitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
0 / 10F
Source RiskWater source: Purchased surface water.
4 / 5B

02What's in Newstead (T)'s water

Every contaminant flagged in Newstead (T), 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.

1 detection · sorted by % of legal limit
Over the limit Elevated — watch Within limits
0 50% LEGAL LIMIT 150%
1 contaminant tested under EPA SDWIS, LCR and UCMR programs · 1 detected · not yet tested for PFAS under UCMR 5

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 9.8 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

03Newstead (T)'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 Newstead (T).

UpdateWater quality data updatedLatest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Newstead (T)'s water quality assessment. Grade: B (78.9/100).
DisasterHURRICANE SANDYFederal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3351). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.
DisasterHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATIONFederal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3262). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.
Violation1 drinking water violation recordedContaminants: Lead and Copper Rule.Open
Lead, 90th percentileppb · lower is better
05101520EPA action level · 15 ppb1993 — 8 ppb2002 — 2 ppb2007 — 3.7 ppb2010 — 3 ppb2013 — 1.9 ppb2016 — 7.8 ppb2022 — 9.8 ppb89.81993200720132022

Up 1.8 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 9.8 ppb (2022) — 66% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).

04Where Newstead (T)'s water comes from

Newstead (T)'s drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.

Source

Purchased Surface Water

Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.

Treatment

Wholesale supplier

Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.

Distribution

1 system

1 water system, operated under local government ownership.

Delivery

5,319 people

Residents served across Newstead (T)'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 5,319 people through 1 water system.

System namePWSIDPopulationSource
ECWA NEWSTEAD NY1422651 5,319 Purchased Surface Water

Water bodies near Newstead (T)

Buffalo Creek · river Cazenovia Creek · river Black Rock Canal · river Niagara River · river Ellicott Creek Below Williamsville · river

As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Newstead (T)'s drinking water supply.

05Pressure on Newstead (T)'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

Occasional

2 federal disaster declarations on record for Erie County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.

HURRICANE SANDY Oct 2012 · DR-3351
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION Sep 2005 · DR-3262

06How Newstead (T) compares

Scores for nearby New York cities on one line, with the average marked.

New York (C)
89 · A-
Smithtown (T)
84.8 · B+
Newstead (T) (this city)
78.9 · B
Islip (T)
71.8 · B-

dashed line = New York average (78/100)

Newstead (T) scores 78.9/100on par with the New York average of 78/100. It outscores 6 of 10 nearby cities. Full New York rankings →

Erie water quality rankings
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 Newstead (T)'s water — not generic advice.

Because of lead

Filter drinking & cooking water

Basic carbon filter for extra protection. Lead detected at 9.8 ppb

Compare tested filters →
Because lead was detected

Flush taps & check your service line

Lead leaches from pipes as water sits. Run cold water 30 seconds before drinking (especially mornings), and ask the utility whether your address still has a lead service line.

Lead risks explained →
Stay informed

Watch for Newstead (T) alerts

We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.

All water alerts →

Frequently asked questions

Is Newstead (T), NY tap water safe to drink?

Newstead (T)'s water quality earned a grade of B (78.9/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #570 out of 810 cities tested in New York.

What contaminants are in Newstead (T)'s water?

Lead was measured at 9.8 ppb (90th percentile). 1 violation is on record.

How is Newstead (T)'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 Newstead (T)?

While lead levels are within EPA limits, a filter adds extra protection. Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Newstead (T)'s water come from?

Newstead (T)'s water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 5,319 residents.

How does Newstead (T)'s water compare to other cities?

Newstead (T) ranks #570 out of 810 cities in New York (better than 30% of state cities) and #8362 out of 15382 cities nationally (46th percentile). The grade of B reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

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About Newstead (T), NY: Buffalo is a city in the U.S. state of New York. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River on the Canada–United States border. It is the second-most populous city in New York, with a population of 278,349 at the 2020 census. The Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area, with over 1.16 million residents, is the 51st-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Buffalo is the county seat of Erie County. Median household income $46,184 · median home value $137,171 · median age 33.9 · 42.6% homeowners · 30% college educated. Wikipedia → Sources: EPA SDWIS & ECHO · UCMR 3–5 · Lead & Copper Rule samples · EPA TRI · U.S. Drought Monitor · FEMA declarations. Data last updated Jul 2026. Analysis by the WaterVerge Editorial Team · methodology.