Rochester
Rochester, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
mcwa
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · mixed ownership · PWSID NY2701047
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 209,802 residents, Rochester ranks as the 9th-largest city in New York and a mid-sized city. Water in Rochester 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, Rochester faces abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
The New York state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Rochester's water future.
Orleans County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~209,802 (9th-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 Rochester?
Rochester's largest water system, MCWA, serves about 768,458 people. EPA records show 1 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 4 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Rochester get its water?
MCWA 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