New York
New York sits in the Northeast and draws its water primarily from Catskill/Delaware watersheds, Great Lakes, and aquifers. With roughly 19.6 million residents, the state has minimal formal water reuse to date, reusing an estimated 3% of its treated wastewater.
New Yorkwater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in New York
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| TTHM | 90 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 52 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 42 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 40 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 33 |
| Groundwater Rule | 33 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
NYC's protected upstate watershed delivers unfiltered water, but upstate systems face PFAS (notably Hoosick Falls) and aging mains.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, New York currently tracks around abnormally dry to moderate conditions. New York has 2,202 community water systems serving about 18 million people; EPA records show 356 of them (16.2%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of New York in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 140 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 10.8 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 16.7%
- Irrigation share
- 0.5%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~3%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Catskill/Delaware watersheds
- ≈ Great Lakes
- ≈ aquifers
Common questions
Is tap water safe in New York?
New York has 2,202 community water systems serving about 18 million people. EPA records show 356 of them (16.2%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 29 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in New York's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS.
How much water does New York use per person?
Public water systems in New York withdraw about 140 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 16.7% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in New York?
As of 2026-06-09, 6.4% of New York is in drought (D1+) and 0.4% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in New York
30 trackedNew York City
New York City, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Queens
Queens, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Manhattan
Manhattan, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
The Bronx
The Bronx, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Staten Island
Staten Island, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Buffalo
Buffalo, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Jamaica
Jamaica, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Rochester
Rochester, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Yonkers
Yonkers, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
East Flatbush
East Flatbush, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
East New York
East New York, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in New York
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExplorePFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
Explore