Arsenic Contamination

Arsenic in New York Drinking Water

Ranked by arsenic violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

237

Cities Tested

237

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

3.3 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

594

Health Violations

Analysis

Arsenic in New York: what the data shows

New York has 237 cities with arsenic-related violations on record. Arsenic contamination is a federal MCL violation at levels above 10 µg/L (10 ppb). The state has 237 cities with at least one arsenic violation. Arsenic enters drinking water primarily through erosion of natural deposits, particularly in western states with arsenite-bearing geology. Industrial sources include mining runoff, glass manufacturing, and semiconductor production. Groundwater systems are significantly more likely to have arsenic issues than surface water systems. Long-term arsenic exposure above the MCL increases the risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Reverse osmosis and specialized arsenic-removal media are the most effective point-of-use treatment options.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 µg/L EPA MCL

New York

100%

237 of 237 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

5270 of 5270 cities

City Map

Arsenic data across New York

Each dot is a city with arsenic violation data. Cities with at least one arsenic-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by arsenic level in New York

Highest Arsenic levels (violations)

All Cities

All New York cities ranked by arsenic level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Windham (T)	76 violations	Yes	73	D
2	Cairo (T)	40 violations	Yes	45	F
3	Friendship (T)	40 violations	Yes	38	C+
4	Clarkstown (T)	31 violations	Yes	11	B-
5	Dryden (V)	25 violations	Yes	26	B
6	Esperance (T)	22 violations	Yes	94	B-
7	Kinderhook (V)	19 violations	Yes	22	D
8	Caneadea (T)	16 violations	Yes	16	A
9	Thompson (T)	14 violations	Yes	6	D
10	Cazenovia (T)	14 violations	Yes	17	A-
11	Chautauqua (T)	12 violations	Yes	41	F
12	Hurley (T)	11 violations	Yes	13	D
13	Andover Twp.-1902	8 violations	Yes	9	D+
14	East Fishkill (T)	8 violations	Yes	21	F
15	Maybrook (V)	7 violations	Yes	0	B+
16	Mount Hope (T)	7 violations	Yes	15	C-
17	Newburgh (T)	6 violations	Yes	50	F
18	Horseheads (V)	6 violations	Yes	6	D+
19	Blooming Grove (T)	6 violations	Yes	5	D
20	Wawarsing (T)	6 violations	Yes	7	D
21	Montgomery (T)	6 violations	Yes	8	D
22	Monsey	6 violations	Yes	6	C-
23	Lake George (T)	6 violations	Yes	6	B
24	Campbell (T)	6 violations	Yes	0	C
25	Queensbury (T)	5 violations	Yes	2	F
26	Wilton (T)	5 violations	Yes	7	D
27	Milton (T)	5 violations	Yes	28	D
28	Moriah (T)	5 violations	Yes	16	A-
29	Bolton (T)	5 violations	Yes	13	C+
30	Monroe (T)	5 violations	Yes	10	F
31	Copake (T)	5 violations	Yes	1	C
32	Wawayanda (T)	5 violations	Yes	10	D
33	Plattekill (T)	5 violations	Yes	4	D+
34	Saranac (T)	5 violations	Yes	9	B-
35	Yorkshire (T)	5 violations	Yes	5	A-
36	Bath (T)	5 violations	Yes	7	D+
37	New Windsor (T)	4 violations	Yes	14	D+
38	Wallkill (T)	4 violations	Yes	23	F
39	Woodbury (T)	4 violations	Yes	18	C+
40	New Paltz (T)	4 violations	Yes	4	C+
41	Potsdam (V)	4 violations	Yes	14	B+
42	Liberty (T)	4 violations	Yes	10	C
43	Bethel (T)	4 violations	Yes	3	B
44	Chesterfield (T)	4 violations	Yes	57	B-
45	Rosendale (T)	4 violations	Yes	3	D
46	Pleasant Valley (T)	4 violations	Yes	6	C-
47	Long Lake (T)	4 violations	Yes	8	B
48	Colchester (T)	4 violations	Yes	5	F
49	Wappinger (T)	3 violations	Yes	9	D
50	Saugerties (T)	3 violations	Yes	6	F
51	Highlands (T)	3 violations	Yes	22	B
52	Owego (V)	3 violations	Yes	5	B-
53	Chester (T)	3 violations	Yes	25	D+
54	Lloyd (T)	3 violations	Yes	4	B-
55	Warrensburg (T)	3 violations	Yes	20	D
56	Amsterdam (T)	3 violations	Yes	31	D
57	Warwick (T)	3 violations	Yes	58	D+
58	Whitehall (V)	3 violations	Yes	54	C+
59	Schroon (T)	3 violations	Yes	3	A-
60	Corinth (V)	3 violations	Yes	3	B+
61	Webb (T)	3 violations	Yes	9	D
62	Lagrange (T)	3 violations	Yes	0	F
63	Johnsburg (T)	3 violations	Yes	0	B
64	Brooklyn	3 violations	Yes	54	D
65	Kent (T)	3 violations	Yes	4	C
66	Canaseraga (V)	3 violations	Yes	1	D+
67	Odessa (V)	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
68	Dannemora (T)	3 violations	Yes	10	B
69	Red Hook (T)	3 violations	Yes	1	C+
70	Rhinebeck (T)	3 violations	Yes	3	B-
71	Ardsley (V)	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
72	Bronxville (V)	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
73	Dobbs Ferry (V)	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
74	Eastchester (T)	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
75	Hastings-On-Hudson (V)	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
76	New Rochelle (C)	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
77	Pelham Manor (V)	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
78	Pelham (V)	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
79	Tuckahoe (V)	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
80	Huntington (T)	2 violations	Yes	11	D
81	Ossining (T)	2 violations	Yes	6	C
82	Saratoga Sprngs (C)	2 violations	Yes	3	A-
83	New Castle (T)	2 violations	Yes	3	B
84	Fredonia (V)	2 violations	Yes	0	D
85	Chenango (T)	2 violations	Yes	17	F
86	Geneseo (V)	2 violations	Yes	7	A-
87	Fallsburg (T)	2 violations	Yes	2	F
88	Alfred (V)	2 violations	Yes	2	C
89	Tupper Lake (V)	2 violations	Yes	67	C+
90	Saranac Lake (V)	2 violations	Yes	4	A
91	Erwin (T)	2 violations	Yes	2	D+
92	South Glens Falls (V)	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
93	Ticonderoga (T)	2 violations	Yes	4	A-
94	Goshen (T)	2 violations	Yes	20	F
95	Walton (V)	2 violations	Yes	1	B
96	Frankfort (V)	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
97	Belmont (V)	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
98	Wolcott (V)	2 violations	Yes	5	A
99	Fenton (T)	2 violations	Yes	8	D+
100	Moravia (V)	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
101	Shawangunk (T)	2 violations	Yes	7	B-
102	St. Johnsville (V)	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
103	North Salem (T)	2 violations	Yes	26	D
104	Willsboro (T)	2 violations	Yes	4	A-
105	Elbridge (V)	2 violations	Yes	21	C
106	Milo (T)	2 violations	Yes	8	B
107	Naples (V)	2 violations	Yes	7	B+
108	Dover (T)	2 violations	Yes	34	D
109	Amenia (T)	2 violations	Yes	4	D+
110	Unadilla (V)	2 violations	Yes	3	D+
111	Edmeston (T)	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
112	Northumberland (T)	2 violations	Yes	1	D+
113	Fultonville (V)	2 violations	Yes	0	C
114	Guilford (T)	2 violations	Yes	0	A
115	Nichols (V)	2 violations	Yes	0	B
116	Mexico (T)	2 violations	Yes	0	A
117	New York (C)	1 violations	Yes	11	A-
118	Islip (T)	1 violations	Yes	7	B-
119	Hempstead (T)	1 violations	Yes	14	D
120	Kiryas Joel (V)	1 violations	Yes	3	D+
121	Newburgh (C)	1 violations	Yes	17	A-
122	Grand Island (T)	1 violations	Yes	2	C+
123	Mount Pleasant (T)	1 violations	Yes	36	C
124	Massena (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
125	Johnson City (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
126	Oneonta (T)	1 violations	Yes	1	C
127	Monroe (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
128	Oneida (C)	1 violations	Yes	3	A
129	Oneida Castle (V)	1 violations	Yes	3	A
130	Tarrytown (V)	1 violations	Yes	3	B+
131	Ballston (T)	1 violations	Yes	6	B+
132	Hornell (C)	1 violations	Yes	2	A
133	Hornelslville (T)	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
134	North Hornell (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	A
135	Waterford (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	A
136	Cornwall-On-Hudson (V)	1 violations	Yes	3	B+
137	Briarcliff Manor (V)	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
138	Malta (T)	1 violations	Yes	3	D
139	Port Jervis (C)	1 violations	Yes	12	A-
140	Big Flats (T)	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
141	Herkimer (V)	1 violations	Yes	44	F
142	Catskill (T)	1 violations	Yes	102	F
143	Johnstown (C)	1 violations	Yes	2	A
144	Croton-On-Hudson (V)	1 violations	Yes	1	A
145	Ballston Spa (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	B
146	Coxsackie (T)	1 violations	Yes	22	B
147	Dannemora (V)	1 violations	Yes	6	A-
148	Salamanca (C)	1 violations	Yes	0	C-
149	Ulster (T)	1 violations	Yes	3	F
150	Penn Yan (V)	1 violations	Yes	8	B-
151	Hoosick Falls (V)	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
152	Barton (T)	1 violations	Yes	4	B
153	Kingsbury (T)	1 violations	Yes	9	C+
154	Ellenville (V)	1 violations	Yes	15	C+
155	Springville (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
156	Gouverneur (V)	1 violations	Yes	11	A
157	Highland Falls (V)	1 violations	Yes	3	A-
158	Greenport (T)	1 violations	Yes	1	C-
159	Coxsackie (V)	1 violations	Yes	19	A-
160	New Baltimore (T)	1 violations	Yes	19	A-
161	Lowville (V)	1 violations	Yes	39	B
162	Liberty (V)	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
163	Delhi (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	D
164	Mount Morris (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	A
165	Chester (V)	1 violations	Yes	4	B-
166	Fort Edward(V)	1 violations	Yes	4	B
167	Cambridge (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
168	Jerusalem (T)	1 violations	Yes	2	A
169	Owasco (T)	1 violations	Yes	0	A
170	Paris (T)	1 violations	Yes	1	A
171	Cold Spring (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
172	Philipstown (T)	1 violations	Yes	5	B-
173	Kirkwood (T)	1 violations	Yes	2	A
174	Newfield (T)	1 violations	Yes	2	B
175	Granville (V)	1 violations	Yes	6	B+
176	North Elba (T)	1 violations	Yes	6	C+
177	Plant City	1 violations	Yes	5	A
178	Norfolk (T)	1 violations	Yes	4	B-
179	Fort Plain (V)	1 violations	Yes	7	A-
180	Easton (T)	1 violations	Yes	4	A
181	Saratoga (T)	1 violations	Yes	12	B+
182	Dolgeville (V)	1 violations	Yes	16	B
183	Holley (V)	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
184	Stockport (T)	1 violations	Yes	2	B
185	Union Springs (V)	1 violations	Yes	7	A
186	Schaghticoke (T)	1 violations	Yes	2	B
187	Hadley (T)	1 violations	Yes	1	A
188	Franklinville (V)	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
189	Oxford (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	A
190	Randolph (T)	1 violations	Yes	2	A
191	Wellsville	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
192	Stillwater (V)	1 violations	Yes	13	B+
193	New Berlin (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	A
194	Roxbury (T)	1 violations	Yes	1	D
195	South Corning (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
196	Virgil (T)	1 violations	Yes	2	C
197	Indian Lake (T)	1 violations	Yes	46	B
198	Schuyler Falls (T)	1 violations	Yes	4	C+
199	Andover Twp.-1902	1 violations	Yes	3	D
200	Fine (T)	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
201	Hunter (V)	1 violations	Yes	5	D
202	Brownville (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
203	Little Valley (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	B
204	Hancock (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	B
205	Castile (V)	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
206	Andover (V)	1 violations	Yes	1	D+
207	Chateaugay (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
208	Portville (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
209	Hunter (T)	1 violations	Yes	24	C
210	Jay (T)	1 violations	Yes	8	B-
211	Ovid (V)	1 violations	Yes	11	B-
212	Newark Valley (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	A
213	Lewisboro (T)	1 violations	Yes	24	D
214	Belfast (T)	1 violations	Yes	15	A-
215	Lyons Falls (V)	1 violations	Yes	5	A
216	Candor (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	B-
217	Afton (V)	1 violations	Yes	1	A
218	Arkport (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	A
219	Tusten (T)	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
220	Sinclairville (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	D+
221	Round Lake (V)	1 violations	Yes	17	A
222	Newport (V)	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
223	Berlin (T)	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
224	Denning (T)	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
225	Tannersville (V)	1 violations	Yes	6	B
226	Unionville (V)	1 violations	Yes	1	A
227	Cato (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	A
228	Davenport (T)	1 violations	Yes	8	F
229	Locke (T)	1 violations	Yes	0	A
230	Margaretville (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
231	Black Brook (T)	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
232	Perrysburg (V)	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
233	Fort Ann (T)	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
234	Middleville (V)	1 violations	Yes	1	B
235	Poland (V)	1 violations	Yes	2	A
236	French Creek (T)	1 violations	Yes	0	A
237	Sunderland	1 violations	Yes	0	A

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about arsenic in New York

Is arsenic in New York tap water a concern?

Yes — 237 cities in New York have arsenic-related violations on record. The EPA MCL for arsenic is 10 µg/L. Even at levels below the MCL, long-term arsenic exposure has been linked to cancer and cardiovascular disease.

How can I remove arsenic from my drinking water in New York?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective at removing arsenic, typically reducing it by 90% or more. Specialized arsenic-removal media (such as iron-based adsorption filters) are also highly effective. Standard carbon filters and pitcher filters do NOT effectively remove arsenic. If your water comes from a private well, have it tested for arsenic.

Where does arsenic in New York water come from?

Arsenic enters drinking water primarily through natural erosion of arsenic-bearing rock formations. It is most common in groundwater systems in the western United States, parts of the Midwest, and New England. Industrial sources include mining, smelting, and agricultural pesticide residues. Groundwater sources are far more likely to contain arsenic than surface water.

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