Manganese Contamination

Manganese in New York Drinking Water

Ranked by max manganese detected (µg/L) · UCMR 4 data (2018–2020) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

198

Cities Tested

Over SMCL

20%

% Over SMCL

64.6 µg/L

State Avg

▲ 2% vs national

vs National

594

Health Violations

Analysis

Manganese in New York: what the data shows

New York has 198 cities with manganese data from the EPA's UCMR 4 program (2018–2020). Manganese exceeded the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL in 40 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 64.6 µg/L. Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water. Elevated levels are common in areas with iron-rich geology and in systems that draw from reservoirs with low dissolved oxygen. The secondary MCL of 50 µg/L is based on aesthetic concerns (taste, staining), but health-based guidelines suggest neurological effects at higher concentrations. Emerging research links chronic manganese exposure in drinking water to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ and behavioral issues. Oxidation filtration and water softeners are effective at removing manganese from household water.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 50 µg/L EPA Secondary MCL

New York

20%

40 of 198 cities

→ ▲ 2% above national rate (worse)

National avg

18%

716 of 4016 cities

City Map

Manganese data across New York

Each dot is a city with UCMR 4 manganese testing data. Cities where manganese exceeds the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by manganese level in New York

Highest Manganese levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All New York cities ranked by manganese level

#	City	Level	Over SMCL?	Violations	Grade
1	Kiryas Joel (V)	2020.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	D+
2	Endicott (V)	1025.9 µg/L	Over SMCL	0	A-
3	Owego (V)	879.6 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	B-
4	Cohoes (C)	791.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	B+
5	Vestal (T)	471.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A-
6	Southampton (T)	419.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	B
7	Clarkstown (T)	290.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	11	B-
8	Huntington (T)	283.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	11	D
9	North Hempstead (T)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	9	F
10	Great Neck Estates (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
11	Great Neck Plaza (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
12	Great Neck (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
13	Kensington (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
14	Kings Point (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
15	Saddle Rock (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
16	Thomaston (V)	213.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A+
17	Guilderland (T)	191.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	18	A-
18	Brookhaven (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	C
19	East Hampton (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	A-
20	Islip (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	7	B-
21	Smithtown (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	B+
22	Southold (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	11	B-
23	Riverhead (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	C+
24	Babylon (T)	176.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	6	B+
25	Ticonderoga (T)	169.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	4	A-
26	Cairo (T)	167.1 µg/L	Over SMCL	45	F
27	Hempstead (T)	162.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	14	D
28	Mamaroneck	126.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	B+
29	Lynbrook (V)	110.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	B
30	Clifton Park (T)	103.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	4	D
31	Sea Cliff (V)	100.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	0	A+
32	Binghamton (C)	74.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	A-
33	Cattaraugus (V)	73.9 µg/L	Over SMCL	14	A-
34	Stewart Manor (V)	69.4 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	A-
35	Buchanan (V)	66.9 µg/L	Over SMCL	0	A
36	Jamestown (C)	61.2 µg/L	Over SMCL	1	A
37	Mount Vernon (C)	57.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	A-
38	Oneida (C)	52.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	A
39	Oneida Castle (V)	52.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	A
40	Woodbury (T)	51.2 µg/L	Over SMCL	18	C+
41	Long Beach (C)	48.9 µg/L	No	3	A
42	Tarrytown (V)	43.5 µg/L	No	3	B+
43	Massapequa Park (V)	43.2 µg/L	No	0	A
44	Oyster Bay (T)	43.2 µg/L	No	14	B-
45	Scarsdale	41.9 µg/L	No	0	A
46	Mount Pleasant (T)	39.9 µg/L	No	36	C
47	Yorktown (T)	36.5 µg/L	No	13	B
48	Ardsley (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
49	Bronxville (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
50	Dobbs Ferry (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
51	Eastchester (T)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
52	Hastings-On-Hudson (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
53	New Rochelle (C)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
54	Pelham Manor (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
55	Pelham (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
56	Tuckahoe (V)	34.5 µg/L	No	4	B-
57	Watertown (C)	34.1 µg/L	No	19	B
58	Roslyn (V)	33.2 µg/L	No	1	A
59	Amsterdam (C)	31.8 µg/L	No	33	B-
60	Cortlandt (T)	30.9 µg/L	No	11	B+
61	New Hyde Park (V)	30.8 µg/L	No	1	A
62	Freeport (V)	29.4 µg/L	No	2	A+
63	Port Chester (V)	26.1 µg/L	No	0	A
64	Rye Brook (V)	26.1 µg/L	No	0	A
65	Rye (T)	26.1 µg/L	No	0	A
66	Greenburgh (T)	26.0 µg/L	No	40	B
67	Massena (V)	25.2 µg/L	No	2	A-
68	Yonkers (C)	23.2 µg/L	No	2	B+
69	Leray (T)	22.1 µg/L	No	4	B+
70	Ramapo (T)	22.0 µg/L	No	19	C+
71	Wappinger (T)	21.1 µg/L	No	9	D
72	Corning (C)	20.3 µg/L	No	2	B-
73	New York (C)	20.0 µg/L	No	11	A-
74	Johnson City (V)	19.8 µg/L	No	2	A-
75	Fulton (C)	18.9 µg/L	No	2	A
76	White Plains (C)	18.7 µg/L	No	1	A-
77	Bethlehem (T)	18.7 µg/L	No	12	A-
78	Fredonia (V)	18.4 µg/L	No	0	D
79	Saratoga Sprngs (C)	18.2 µg/L	No	3	A-
80	Rockville Center (V)	16.6 µg/L	No	5	A
81	Ithaca (C)	16.0 µg/L	No	11	B+
82	Peekskill (C)	14.4 µg/L	No	15	A-
83	Cassadaga (V)	13.5 µg/L	No	1	A-
84	Watertown (T)	12.2 µg/L	No	20	B
85	Rome (C)	12.1 µg/L	No	20	B+
86	Mineola (V)	11.6 µg/L	No	1	A-
87	Westbury (V)	10.7 µg/L	No	2	A-
88	Deerfield (T)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B-
89	Marcy (T)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
90	New Hartford (T)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
91	New Hartford (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
92	New York Mills (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
93	Oriskany (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
94	Utica (C)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
95	Whitesboro (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
96	Whitestown (T)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
97	Yorkville (V)	10.5 µg/L	No	25	B+
98	Westmoreland (T)	10.5 µg/L	No	27	B-
99	Rochester (C)	10.0 µg/L	No	3	B
100	Brighton (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	5	C+
101	Chili (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
102	Churchville (V)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
103	Clarkson (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
104	East Rochester (X)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
105	Fairport (V)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
106	Gates (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
107	Greece (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
108	Hamlin (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
109	Henrietta (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
110	Honeoye Falls (V)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
111	Irondequoit (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	C+
112	Kendall (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
113	Mendon (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
114	Ogden (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
115	Parma (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
116	Penfield (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
117	Perinton (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
118	Pittsford (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
119	Pittsford (V)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
120	Riga (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
121	Rush (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	2	B
122	Scottsville (V)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
123	Spencerport (V)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
124	Sweden (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
125	Victor (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	3	B
126	Webster (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
127	Wheatland (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	1	B
128	Batavia (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	2	B+
129	Victor (V)	10.0 µg/L	No	3	B
130	Oakfield (T)	10.0 µg/L	No	4	B+
131	Oakfield (V)	10.0 µg/L	No	4	B+
132	Gloversville (C)	9.7 µg/L	No	2	A-
133	Kenmore (V)	9.7 µg/L	No	0	A
134	Newburgh (T)	9.0 µg/L	No	50	F
135	Garden City (V)	8.8 µg/L	No	5	A-
136	Queensbury (T)	6.8 µg/L	No	2	F
137	Olean (C)	6.4 µg/L	No	1	B
138	Elma (T)	6.3 µg/L	No	0	A+
139	Buffalo (C)	6.2 µg/L	No	2	A-
140	Amherst (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
141	Cheektowaga (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
142	Clarence (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
143	Concord (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	8	B-
144	Depew (V)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
145	Evans (T)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
146	Lackawanna (C)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
147	Lancaster (V)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
148	Sloan (V)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
149	Tonawanda (C)	6.2 µg/L	No	0	A
150	Horseheads (V)	5.8 µg/L	No	6	D+
151	Kingston (C)	5.8 µg/L	No	8	A-
152	Glens Falls (C)	5.6 µg/L	No	17	B+
153	Beacon (C)	5.5 µg/L	No	4	A-
154	Nyack (V)	5.0 µg/L	No	3	B
155	South Nyack (V)	5.0 µg/L	No	3	B
156	Albany (C)	4.9 µg/L	No	0	A-
157	De Witt (T)	4.9 µg/L	No	6	A-
158	Syracuse (C)	4.7 µg/L	No	29	C+
159	Schenectady (C)	4.7 µg/L	No	1	B+
160	Colonie (T)	4.7 µg/L	No	1	A+
161	Rensselaer (C)	4.5 µg/L	No	6	B+
162	Clifton Springs (V)	4.4 µg/L	No	0	B+
163	Ogdensburg (C)	4.3 µg/L	No	1	A-
164	Hempstead (V)	4.1 µg/L	No	1	A-
165	Halfmoon (T)	3.4 µg/L	No	3	A
166	Ossining (T)	3.3 µg/L	No	6	C
167	Middletown (C)	3.2 µg/L	No	3	A
168	Clay (T)	3.2 µg/L	No	2	A+
169	Geneseo (V)	3.2 µg/L	No	7	A-
170	Newburgh (C)	3.1 µg/L	No	17	A-
171	Wallkill (T)	3.1 µg/L	No	23	F
172	Macedon (T)	2.9 µg/L	No	3	A+
173	Rotterdam (T)	2.8 µg/L	No	2	A
174	Grand Island (T)	2.7 µg/L	No	2	C+
175	Fenton (T)	2.6 µg/L	No	8	D+
176	Poughkeepsie (T)	2.6 µg/L	No	0	A-
177	Colonie (V)	2.6 µg/L	No	1	A-
178	North Tonawanda (C)	2.3 µg/L	No	0	A+
179	Plattsburgh (C)	2.3 µg/L	No	1	A-
180	Auburn (C)	1.7 µg/L	No	0	A+
181	Watkins Glen (V)	1.5 µg/L	No	7	A
182	Dunkirk (C)	1.2 µg/L	No	1	C
183	Deruyter (V)	1.2 µg/L	No	0	A-
184	Poughkeepsie (C)	1.2 µg/L	No	2	A
185	Fleming (T)	1.1 µg/L	No	12	A
186	Springport (T)	1.1 µg/L	No	8	A-
187	Evans Mills (V)	0.8 µg/L	No	1	A
188	Farmington (T)	0.7 µg/L	No	7	A
189	Ontario (T)	0.7 µg/L	No	4	A+
190	Lockport (T)	0.7 µg/L	No	0	A+
191	Canandaigua (C)	0.7 µg/L	No	2	A-
192	Niagara Falls (C)	0.6 µg/L	No	0	A+
193	Oswego (C)	0.6 µg/L	No	4	A
194	Cortland (C)	0.6 µg/L	No	5	A
195	Geneva (C)	0.5 µg/L	No	2	A
196	Lockport (C)	0.5 µg/L	No	0	A
197	Glen Cove (C)	0.5 µg/L	No	4	B+
198	Palmyra (V)	0.4 µg/L	No	2	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about manganese in New York

Is manganese in New York tap water harmful?

The EPA secondary MCL for manganese is 50 µg/L, set primarily for aesthetic reasons (taste, color, staining). 40 cities in New York exceed the secondary MCL. However, emerging research links chronic manganese exposure above 50–100 µg/L to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ.

How can I remove manganese from my drinking water?

Oxidation filtration (such as greensand or birm filters) is the most common and effective method for removing manganese from well water. Water softeners using ion exchange also work well. Standard carbon filters provide limited manganese removal. If your water has a metallic taste or brown/black discoloration, manganese may be the cause.

What causes high manganese in New York water?

Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water, particularly in areas with iron-rich geology. Low dissolved oxygen conditions (common in deep wells and reservoir bottom waters) increase manganese solubility. Industrial sources include mining, steel production, and battery manufacturing. Seasonal changes in reservoir water chemistry can cause manganese spikes.

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