Copper Contamination

Copper in New York Drinking Water

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

205

Cities Tested

205

Exceeds Limit

100%

% Exceeds Limit

18.712 mg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

630

Health Violations

Analysis

Copper in New York: what the data shows

New York has 205 cities with copper monitoring data. The state average 90th percentile copper level is 18.712 mg/L, compared to 28.808 mg/L nationally — better than the national average. 205 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%

205 of 205 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

3953 of 3953 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	Wheatland (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	Ellery (T)	3.850 mg/L	Yes	0	B-
28	Somers (T)	3.750 mg/L	Yes	4	F
29	Carmel (T)	3.500 mg/L	Yes	17	C-
30	Chenango (T)	3.410 mg/L	Yes	17	F
31	Schroon (T)	3.245 mg/L	Yes	3	A-
32	Hurley (T)	3.010 mg/L	Yes	13	D
33	Cortlandt (T)	3.000 mg/L	Yes	11	B+
34	Woodbury (T)	2.800 mg/L	Yes	18	C+
35	Maryland (T)	2.800 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
36	North Collins (V)	2.705 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
37	Stamford (V)	2.580 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
38	Malta (T)	2.500 mg/L	Yes	3	D
39	Deposit (V)	2.470 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
40	Chesterfield (T)	2.430 mg/L	Yes	57	B-
41	Valatie (V)	2.420 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
42	Cairo (T)	2.400 mg/L	Yes	45	F
43	Dryden (T)	2.360 mg/L	Yes	0	C
44	Ramapo (T)	2.300 mg/L	Yes	19	C+
45	Jay (T)	2.300 mg/L	Yes	8	B-
46	Hancock (V)	2.300 mg/L	Yes	0	B
47	Beekmantown (T)	2.300 mg/L	Yes	6	D
48	Verona (T)	2.275 mg/L	Yes	12	B-
49	Lowville (V)	2.200 mg/L	Yes	39	B
50	Warrensburg (T)	2.185 mg/L	Yes	20	D
51	Webb (T)	2.135 mg/L	Yes	9	D
52	Beekman (T)	2.100 mg/L	Yes	88	F
53	Keene (T)	2.100 mg/L	Yes	9	B
54	Covert (T)	2.100 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
55	Ripley (T)	2.090 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
56	Colchester (T)	2.080 mg/L	Yes	5	F
57	Catskill (V)	2.070 mg/L	Yes	102	F
58	North Salem (T)	2.070 mg/L	Yes	26	D
59	Glen Park (V)	2.050 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
60	Montgomery (T)	2.014 mg/L	Yes	8	D
61	Brownville (V)	2.012 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
62	Chester (T)	2.010 mg/L	Yes	25	D+
63	Conklin (T)	2.010 mg/L	Yes	3	B+
64	Herkimer (V)	2.000 mg/L	Yes	44	F
65	Fallsburg (T)	2.000 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
66	Martinsburg (T)	2.000 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
67	Wallkill (T)	1.900 mg/L	Yes	23	F
68	Fallsburg (T)	1.900 mg/L	Yes	2	F
69	Unadilla (V)	1.900 mg/L	Yes	3	D+
70	Belfast (T)	1.900 mg/L	Yes	15	A-
71	Brownville (T)	1.900 mg/L	Yes	3	A-
72	Kent (T)	1.890 mg/L	Yes	4	C
73	Croton-On-Hudson (V)	1.880 mg/L	Yes	1	A
74	Shelter Island (T)	1.850 mg/L	Yes	10	C-
75	Yonkers (C)	1.810 mg/L	Yes	2	B+
76	Red Hook (T)	1.810 mg/L	Yes	1	C+
77	Bolton (T)	1.810 mg/L	Yes	13	C+
78	Goshen (T)	1.800 mg/L	Yes	20	F
79	Windham (T)	1.800 mg/L	Yes	73	D
80	Pawling (T)	1.800 mg/L	Yes	39	C-
81	Catlin (T)	1.800 mg/L	Yes	16	B-
82	Saugerties (T)	1.788 mg/L	Yes	6	F
83	Milton (T)	1.788 mg/L	Yes	28	D
84	Shandaken (T)	1.780 mg/L	Yes	52	B-
85	Avon (V)	1.771 mg/L	Yes	6	A-
86	Granville (T)	1.760 mg/L	Yes	6	B+
87	Champion (T)	1.750 mg/L	Yes	3	A
88	Cambridge (V)	1.740 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
89	Whitehall (V)	1.700 mg/L	Yes	54	C+
90	Indian Lake (T)	1.700 mg/L	Yes	46	B
91	Granville (V)	1.690 mg/L	Yes	6	B+
92	Greenwich (T)	1.660 mg/L	Yes	2	B-
93	Ilion (V)	1.650 mg/L	Yes	3	C+
94	Mamaroneck	1.630 mg/L	Yes	5	B+
95	Rochester (T)	1.621 mg/L	Yes	10	F
96	Mount Hope (T)	1.610 mg/L	Yes	15	C-
97	Oyster Bay (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	14	B-
98	Greenburgh (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	40	B
99	Ulster (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	3	F
100	Moreau (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	4	A-
101	Oyster Bay (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	2	A
102	Wawarsing (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	7	D
103	Greenwood Lake (V)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	9	A-
104	Groton (V)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
105	Schoharie (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	94	B-
106	Altona (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	6	B+
107	Schoharie (T)	1.600 mg/L	Yes	74	B-
108	Hunter (V)	1.580 mg/L	Yes	24	C
109	Hunter (V)	1.580 mg/L	Yes	5	D
110	Fort Plain (V)	1.570 mg/L	Yes	7	A-
111	Princetown (T)	1.560 mg/L	Yes	4	B+
112	Schenectady (C)	1.550 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
113	Worcester (T)	1.540 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
114	Liberty (V)	1.530 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
115	Stockport (T)	1.530 mg/L	Yes	2	B
116	Hempstead (T)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	9	F
117	Queensbury (T)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	2	F
118	Hyde Park (T)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	37	F
119	Ogdensburg (C)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
120	Boonville (V)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
121	Boonville (V)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
122	Wellsville	1.500 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
123	Morris (V)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	0	A
124	Mount Pleasant (T)	1.496 mg/L	Yes	36	C
125	Yorkshire (T)	1.490 mg/L	Yes	5	A-
126	Penn Yan (V)	1.484 mg/L	Yes	8	B-
127	Dexter (V)	1.482 mg/L	Yes	14	A-
128	Stillwater (V)	1.480 mg/L	Yes	13	B+
129	Vestal (T)	1.470 mg/L	Yes	2	A-
130	Monroe (T)	1.450 mg/L	Yes	10	F
131	Roxbury (T)	1.450 mg/L	Yes	1	D
132	Chateaugay (V)	1.450 mg/L	Yes	2	A-
133	Briarcliff Manor (V)	1.440 mg/L	Yes	9	A-
134	Palmyra (V)	1.440 mg/L	Yes	2	A-
135	Alden (T)	1.440 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
136	Elmsford (V)	1.430 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
137	New Scotland (T)	1.430 mg/L	Yes	1	B-
138	Windsor (V)	1.430 mg/L	Yes	0	A
139	Ellenville (V)	1.420 mg/L	Yes	15	C+
140	Denning (T)	1.420 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
141	Lewisboro (T)	1.410 mg/L	Yes	24	D
142	Davenport (T)	1.410 mg/L	Yes	8	F
143	Wheatland (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	5	C+
144	Wheatland (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	2	B
145	Tuckahoe (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
146	Tuckahoe (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
147	Tuckahoe (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
148	Tuckahoe (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
149	Tuckahoe (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
150	Tuckahoe (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
151	Tuckahoe (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
152	Tuckahoe (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
153	Tuckahoe (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
154	Ithaca (C)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	11	B+
155	Plattsburgh (C)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
156	Scarsdale	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	A
157	Newark (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	4	A-
158	Thompson (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	6	D
159	Geneseo (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	7	A-
160	Irvington (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	2	A
161	Lyons (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	A+
162	Geneva (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
163	Phelps (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	11	B-
164	Seneca (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
165	Clifton Springs (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
166	Phelps (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
167	Cooperstown (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	2	B+
168	Jordan (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	25	B-
169	Manchester (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	9	B-
170	Millbrook (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
171	Jordan (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	24	B-
172	Shortsville (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
173	Benton (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
174	Andover (V)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	1	D+
175	Long Lake (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	8	B
176	Odessa	1.400 mg/L	Yes	8	B+
177	Ashland (T)	1.400 mg/L	Yes	13	D
178	Holley (V)	1.385 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
179	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	27	B-
180	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B-
181	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
182	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
183	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
184	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
185	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
186	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
187	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
188	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
189	New Hartford (V)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	25	B+
190	Nichols (T)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	0	A
191	Gerry (T)	1.380 mg/L	Yes	0	D+
192	Bethel (T)	1.370 mg/L	Yes	3	B
193	Bethel (T)	1.370 mg/L	Yes	10	C
194	Altamont (V)	1.370 mg/L	Yes	3	A
195	Hounsfield (T)	1.370 mg/L	Yes	27	B-
196	Bedford (T)	1.360 mg/L	Yes	9	D
197	Brewster (V)	1.360 mg/L	Yes	20	B-
198	Patterson (T)	1.360 mg/L	Yes	12	C-
199	Putnam Valley (T)	1.360 mg/L	Yes	4	A-
200	Unadilla (T)	1.360 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
201	Schoharie (V)	1.351 mg/L	Yes	21	B+
202	East Fishkill (T)	1.350 mg/L	Yes	21	F
203	Blooming Grove (T)	1.350 mg/L	Yes	5	D
204	Cold Spring (V)	1.350 mg/L	Yes	5	B-
205	Rockland (T)	1.350 mg/L	Yes	6	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about copper in New York

Is copper in New York drinking water safe?

205 cities in New York exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L for copper. The state average is 18.712 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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