Albany
Albany, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
albany city
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID NY0100189
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 98,469 residents, Albany ranks as the 27th-largest city in New York and a small but growing city. Water in Albany is sourced chiefly from Catskill/Delaware watersheds, Great Lakes, and aquifers, the backbone of New York's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: aging infrastructure. NYC's protected upstate watershed delivers unfiltered water, but upstate systems face PFAS (notably Hoosick Falls) and aging mains.
Statewide, New York recycles about 3% of its wastewater with minimal reuse programs. Locally, Albany faces abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
The New York state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Albany's water future.
Albany County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~98,469 (27th-largest in New York)
- Primary sources: Catskill/Delaware watersheds, Great Lakes, and aquifers
- Drought: abnormally dry to moderate conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of New York in severe+ drought (Moderate (D1) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Albany?
Albany's largest water system, ALBANY CITY, serves about 98,000 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 13 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Albany get its water?
ALBANY CITY draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of New York's supply from Catskill/Delaware watersheds, Great Lakes, aquifers.
Related water issues
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