Washington Heights
Washington Heights, NY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Washington Heights, NY is a mid-sized city, with a population near 152,613 and the 13th-largest community in New York. Like much of New York, Washington Heights draws its water primarily from Catskill/Delaware watersheds, Great Lakes, and aquifers.
Washington Heights's water outlook is shaped most by aging infrastructure — the issue that dominates planning across New York. NYC's protected upstate watershed delivers unfiltered water, but upstate systems face PFAS (notably Hoosick Falls) and aging mains.
Washington Heights sits in a state that reuses roughly 3% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences abnormally dry to moderate drought.
For the bigger picture, see the New York state water profile and the related issues below.
At a glance
- Population ~152,613 (13th-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 Washington Heights?
Washington Heights is served by community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Statewide, 16.2% of New York's systems have a recent health-based violation. Check your provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report for local results.
Where does Washington Heights get its water?
Washington Heights draws from the same regional sources that serve New York: 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