Copper Contamination

Copper in New York Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile copper level (mg/L) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

190

Cities Tested

190

Exceeds Limit

100%

% Exceeds Limit

20.038 mg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

594

Health Violations

Analysis

Copper in New York: what the data shows

New York has 190 cities with copper monitoring data. The state average 90th percentile copper level is 20.038 mg/L, compared to 29.400 mg/L nationally — better than the national average. 190 cities exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L. Copper in drinking water typically comes from corrosion of copper pipes and plumbing fixtures, particularly in older homes. The EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L is the 90th percentile threshold — if more than 10% of tap samples exceed it, utilities must take corrective action including adjusting water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. Short-term copper exposure above the action level can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure at elevated levels is associated with liver and kidney damage. Flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use and using an NSF 53-certified filter can reduce copper exposure.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 1.3 mg/L EPA Action Level

New York

100%

190 of 190 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

3810 of 3810 cities

City Map

Copper data across New York

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with copper levels above the 1.3 mg/L EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by copper level in New York

Highest Copper levels (mg/L)

All Cities

All New York cities ranked by copper level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Port Leyden (V)	590.000 mg/L	Yes	5	B
2	Holland (T)	553.000 mg/L	Yes	21	D
3	Lagrange (T)	530.000 mg/L	Yes	0	F
4	Chautauqua (T)	353.000 mg/L	Yes	41	F
5	Leray (T)	300.000 mg/L	Yes	4	B+
6	Henderson (T)	285.000 mg/L	Yes	0	B
7	Prattsburgh (T)	271.000 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
8	Copake (T)	123.000 mg/L	Yes	1	C
9	New York	110.000 mg/L	Yes	3	B-
10	Cohocton (V)	105.000 mg/L	Yes	6	A
11	Wayland (V)	94.800 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
12	Avoca (V)	83.600 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
13	New Windsor (T)	27.000 mg/L	Yes	14	D+
14	Canandaigua (C)	27.000 mg/L	Yes	2	A-
15	Victor (T)	13.000 mg/L	Yes	3	B
16	Homer (V)	11.000 mg/L	Yes	2	B+
17	Schaghticoke (T)	10.000 mg/L	Yes	2	B
18	Walton (V)	5.700 mg/L	Yes	1	B
19	Johnsburg (T)	5.400 mg/L	Yes	0	B
20	Warwick (T)	5.000 mg/L	Yes	58	D+
21	Fulton (C)	4.900 mg/L	Yes	2	A
22	Alfred (V)	4.400 mg/L	Yes	2	C
23	Dover (T)	4.165 mg/L	Yes	34	D
24	Clarkstown (T)	4.000 mg/L	Yes	11	B-
25	Brunswick (T)	4.000 mg/L	Yes	8	D+
26	Fenton (T)	3.850 mg/L	Yes	8	D+
27	Somers (T)	3.750 mg/L	Yes	4	F
28	Chenango (T)	3.410 mg/L	Yes	17	F
29	Schroon (T)	3.245 mg/L	Yes	3	A-
30	Hurley (T)	3.010 mg/L	Yes	13	D
31	Cortlandt (T)	3.000 mg/L	Yes	11	B+
32	Woodbury (T)	2.800 mg/L	Yes	18	C+
33	Maryland (T)	2.800 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
34	North Collins (V)	2.705 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
35	Stamford (V)	2.580 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
36	Malta (T)	2.500 mg/L	Yes	3	D
37	Deposit (V)	2.470 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
38	Chesterfield (T)	2.430 mg/L	Yes	57	B-
39	Valatie (V)	2.420 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
40	Cairo (T)	2.400 mg/L	Yes	45	F
41	Ramapo (T)	2.300 mg/L	Yes	19	C+
42	Hancock (V)	2.300 mg/L	Yes	0	B
43	Jay (T)	2.300 mg/L	Yes	8	B-
44	Verona (T)	2.275 mg/L	Yes	12	B-
45	Lowville (V)	2.200 mg/L	Yes	39	B
46	Warrensburg (T)	2.185 mg/L	Yes	20	D
47	Webb (T)	2.135 mg/L	Yes	9	D
48	Beekman (T)	2.100 mg/L	Yes	88	F
49	Keene (T)	2.100 mg/L	Yes	9	B
50	Covert (T)	2.100 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
51	Ripley (T)	2.090 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
52	Colchester (T)	2.080 mg/L	Yes	5	F
53	Catskill (T)	2.070 mg/L	Yes	102	F
54	North Salem (T)	2.070 mg/L	Yes	26	D
55	Glen Park (V)	2.050 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
56	Montgomery (T)	2.014 mg/L	Yes	8	D
57	Brownville (V)	2.012 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
58	Chester (T)	2.010 mg/L	Yes	25	D+
59	Conklin (T)	2.010 mg/L	Yes	3	B+
60	Herkimer (V)	2.000 mg/L	Yes	44	F
61	Woodridge (V)	2.000 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
62	Martinsburg (T)	2.000 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
63	Wallkill (T)	1.900 mg/L	Yes	23	F
64	Fallsburg (T)	1.900 mg/L	Yes	2	F
65	Unadilla (V)	1.900 mg/L	Yes	3	D+
66	Belfast (T)	1.900 mg/L	Yes	15	A-
67	Brownville (T)	1.900 mg/L	Yes	3	A-
68	Kent (T)	1.890 mg/L	Yes	4	C
69	Croton-On-Hudson (V)	1.880 mg/L	Yes	1	A
70	Yonkers (C)	1.810 mg/L	Yes	2	B+
71	Bolton (T)	1.810 mg/L	Yes	13	C+
72	Red Hook (T)	1.810 mg/L	Yes	1	C+
73	Goshen (T)	1.800 mg/L	Yes	20	F
74	Windham (T)	1.800 mg/L	Yes	73	D
75	Saugerties (T)	1.788 mg/L	Yes	6	F
76	Milton (T)	1.788 mg/L	Yes	28	D
77	Shandaken (T)	1.780 mg/L	Yes	52	B-
78	Avon (V)	1.771 mg/L	Yes	6	A-
79	Granville (T)	1.760 mg/L	Yes	6	B+
80	Champion (T)	1.750 mg/L	Yes	3	A
81	Cambridge (V)	1.740 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
82	Whitehall (V)	1.700 mg/L	Yes	54	C+
83	Indian Lake (T)	1.700 mg/L	Yes	46	B
84	Granville (V)	1.690 mg/L	Yes	6	B+
85	Greenwich (T)	1.660 mg/L	Yes	2	B-
86	Ilion (V)	1.650 mg/L	Yes	3	C+
87	Mamaroneck	1.630 mg/L	Yes	5	B+
88	Mount Hope (T)	1.610 mg/L	Yes	15	C-
89	Greenburgh (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	40	B
90	Oyster Bay (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	14	B-
91	Mill Neck (V)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	2	A
92	Moreau (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	4	A-
93	Ulster (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	3	F
94	Greenwood Lake (V)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	9	A-
95	Wawarsing (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	7	D
96	Groton (V)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
97	Altona (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	6	B+
98	Esperance (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	94	B-
99	Schoharie (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	74	B-
100	Hunter (V)	1.580 mg/L	Yes	5	D
101	Hunter (T)	1.580 mg/L	Yes	24	C
102	Fort Plain (V)	1.570 mg/L	Yes	7	A-
103	Princetown (T)	1.560 mg/L	Yes	4	B+
104	Schenectady (C)	1.550 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
105	Worcester (T)	1.540 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
106	Liberty (V)	1.530 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
107	Stockport (T)	1.530 mg/L	Yes	2	B
108	North Hempstead (T)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	9	F
109	Queensbury (T)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	2	F
110	Ogdensburg (C)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
111	Boonville (T)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
112	Boonville (V)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
113	Wellsville	1.500 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
114	Morris (V)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	0	A
115	Mount Pleasant (T)	1.496 mg/L	Yes	36	C
116	Yorkshire (T)	1.490 mg/L	Yes	5	A-
117	Penn Yan (V)	1.484 mg/L	Yes	8	B-
118	Dexter (V)	1.482 mg/L	Yes	14	A-
119	Stillwater (V)	1.480 mg/L	Yes	13	B+
120	Vestal (T)	1.470 mg/L	Yes	2	A-
121	Monroe (T)	1.450 mg/L	Yes	10	F
122	Roxbury (T)	1.450 mg/L	Yes	1	D
123	Chateaugay (V)	1.450 mg/L	Yes	2	A-
124	Briarcliff Manor (V)	1.440 mg/L	Yes	9	A-
125	Palmyra (V)	1.440 mg/L	Yes	2	A-
126	Alden (T)	1.440 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
127	Elmsford (V)	1.430 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
128	Windsor (V)	1.430 mg/L	Yes	0	A
129	Ellenville (V)	1.420 mg/L	Yes	15	C+
130	Denning (T)	1.420 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
131	Lewisboro (T)	1.410 mg/L	Yes	24	D
132	Davenport (T)	1.410 mg/L	Yes	8	F
133	Brighton (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	5	C+
134	Rush (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	2	B
135	Ardsley (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
136	Bronxville (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
137	Dobbs Ferry (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
138	Eastchester (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
139	Hastings-On-Hudson (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
140	New Rochelle (C)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
141	Pelham Manor (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
142	Pelham (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
143	Tuckahoe (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
144	Ithaca (C)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	11	B+
145	Plattsburgh (C)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
146	Scarsdale	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	A
147	Newark (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	A-
148	Geneseo (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	7	A-
149	Irvington (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	2	A
150	Lyons (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	A+
151	Geneva (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
152	Seneca (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
153	Phelps (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	11	B-
154	Thompson (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	6	D
155	Clifton Springs (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
156	Phelps (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
157	Cooperstown (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	2	B+
158	Millbrook (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
159	Jordan (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	24	B-
160	Shortsville (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
161	Andover (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	1	D+
162	Manchester (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	9	B-
163	Long Lake (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	8	B
164	Odessa	1.400 mg/L	Yes	8	B+
165	Benton (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
166	Holley (V)	1.385 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
167	Deerfield (T)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B-
168	Marcy (T)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
169	New Hartford (T)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
170	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
171	New York Mills (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
172	Oriskany (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
173	Utica (C)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
174	Whitesboro (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
175	Whitestown (T)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
176	Yorkville (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
177	Westmoreland (T)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	27	B-
178	Nichols (T)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	0	A
179	Liberty (T)	1.370 mg/L	Yes	10	C
180	Bethel (T)	1.370 mg/L	Yes	3	B
181	Altamont (V)	1.370 mg/L	Yes	3	A
182	Hounsfield (T)	1.370 mg/L	Yes	27	B-
183	Patterson (T)	1.360 mg/L	Yes	12	C-
184	Southeast (T)	1.360 mg/L	Yes	20	B-
185	Putnam Valley (T)	1.360 mg/L	Yes	4	A-
186	Schoharie (V)	1.351 mg/L	Yes	21	B+
187	Blooming Grove (T)	1.350 mg/L	Yes	5	D
188	Philipstown (T)	1.350 mg/L	Yes	5	B-
189	Rockland (T)	1.350 mg/L	Yes	6	A-
190	East Fishkill (T)	1.350 mg/L	Yes	21	F

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about copper in New York

Is copper in New York drinking water safe?

190 cities in New York exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L for copper. The state average is 20.038 mg/L. Copper levels are highest in homes with copper plumbing, particularly when water sits in pipes overnight. Flushing the tap before use significantly reduces copper in drinking water.

What causes high copper levels in New York tap water?

Copper typically leaches from copper pipes and brass fittings within homes, not from the water source itself. Corrosive (low pH or soft) water accelerates this leaching. Water utilities with high copper readings are required to adjust water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. You can reduce exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use.

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