Staten Island
Staten Island, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
sunshine acres mhc
groundwater (wells) · private · PWSID GA0750039
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 468,730 residents, Staten Island ranks as the 6th-largest city in New York and a large city. Water in Staten Island 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, Staten Island faces abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
The New York state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Staten Island's water future.
Cook County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~468,730 (6th-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 Staten Island?
Staten Island's largest water system, SUNSHINE ACRES MHC, serves about 189 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Staten Island get its water?
SUNSHINE ACRES MHC draws primarily from groundwater (wells), 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