New York Tap Water: Is It Safe to Drink?

Last updated: February 2026

NYC Water Quality Overview

New York City has some of the best municipal tap water in the United States. That's not marketing — it's supported by data.

NYC is one of only five large cities in America that receives a Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) from the EPA. This means the source water is so clean that it doesn't require conventional filtration — a distinction that saves the city an estimated $10+ billion in infrastructure costs.

The city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) conducts over 500,000 water quality tests per year across the system. In its most recent annual report, NYC water met all federal and state drinking water standards.

Where NYC Water Comes From

NYC's water travels up to 125 miles from upstate watersheds to city taps, entirely by gravity — no pumping required. The system has three main sources:

Catskill/Delaware System (~90% of supply)

The backbone of NYC's water supply. Fed by snowmelt and rainfall in the Catskill Mountains and Delaware River basin in upstate New York. This system includes some of the most pristine surface water in the eastern U.S.

• Key reservoirs: Pepacton, Cannonsville, Neversink, Rondout, Ashokan, Schoharie
• Watershed size: ~1,600 square miles of protected forest and farmland
• Treatment: UV disinfection + chlorine + fluoride + phosphoric acid (corrosion control). No conventional filtration.

Croton System (~10% of supply)

Sourced from a smaller, more developed watershed in Westchester and Putnam counties. Because this watershed has more development pressure, the Croton supply is filtered at the Croton Filtration Plant in the Bronx (completed 2015, cost $3.2 billion).

How NYC Protects Its Water

NYC's water quality starts with aggressive watershed protection — not treatment:

• Land acquisition: The city has purchased over 140,000 acres of watershed land to prevent development
• Farming partnerships: Programs with upstate farms to reduce agricultural runoff
• Septic system upgrades: Funding for improved septic systems in watershed communities
• Stormwater management: Extensive erosion and runoff control projects
• Annual investment: NYC spends roughly $1.5 billion per year on water system operations

Why NYC Water Is Considered So Good

NYC's water reputation is earned, not hype. Here's what makes it stand out:

• Protected source: The Catskill/Delaware watershed is mostly forested with minimal industrial activity — far cleaner than sources used by most cities.
• Gravity-fed: Water flows entirely by gravity from upstate to city taps, reducing infrastructure-related contamination.
• Mineral content: NYC water has a distinctive mineral profile (calcium, magnesium, low sodium) that contributes to its taste — and, many argue, to great bagels and pizza dough.
• Low TDS: Total dissolved solids are typically 15-40 ppm — much lower than most U.S. cities (average 200-500 ppm).
• Consistent quality: The protected watershed means fewer contamination events and more consistent quality year-round.

What's Actually in NYC Water

Despite its reputation, NYC water isn't perfect. Based on DEP reports and EWG analysis, here are the contaminants detected:

Key takeaway: NYC water comfortably meets all EPA legal limits. However, like virtually all chlorinated water systems, it contains disinfection byproducts (HAAs and THMs) far above EWG health guidelines. These are the main contaminants of concern for NYC residents.

Lead in NYC Buildings

NYC's source water contains virtually no lead. The issue is what happens inside buildings.

New York City has an enormous stock of pre-war buildings — many with original plumbing that may contain:

• Lead service lines: Pipes connecting the water main to the building. NYC has replaced many, but some remain, especially in older neighborhoods.
• Lead solder: Used in copper pipe joints before 1986. Still present in millions of NYC buildings.
• Lead fixtures: Older faucets and valves may contain lead alloys.

NYC DEP adds phosphoric acid to the water as a corrosion inhibitor — this creates a protective coating inside pipes that reduces lead leaching. It's the same approach used in many cities, and it works, but it doesn't eliminate lead exposure entirely.

PFAS and NYC Water

The good news: NYC's water has tested at very low levels for PFAS compared to many U.S. cities. The protected, forested Catskill/Delaware watershed has minimal industrial activity — the primary source of PFAS contamination.

NYC DEP has been monitoring for PFAS (forever chemicals) and reports levels well below the new EPA limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS. This is a significant advantage over cities that draw from rivers or aquifers near industrial sites or military bases.

However, trace PFAS has been detected, and complete zero is essentially impossible in the modern environment. For those wanting to remove even trace PFAS, a reverse osmosis system is the most effective option.

Water Quality by Borough

All five boroughs receive the same source water, but quality at your tap can vary based on local infrastructure:

Do You Need a Filter in NYC?

NYC water is among the best in the country — but "best" doesn't mean "perfect." Here's our honest assessment:

You probably need a filter if:

• You live in a pre-war building (pre-1961) — lead risk from old plumbing
• You're pregnant or have young children — even low lead levels matter
• You want to remove disinfection byproducts (HAAs/THMs) — present in all chlorinated NYC water
• You're sensitive to chlorine taste or skin irritation

You can probably skip a filter if:

• You live in a newer building (post-1990) with modern plumbing
• You're not concerned about DBPs at NYC's levels
• You're on a tight budget — NYC water is genuinely good enough to drink straight

Best Filters for NYC Water

NYC's water is already very clean, so you don't need heavy-duty filtration. Here's what makes sense:

Frequently Asked Questions