Water Quality: Buffalo, NY
13 water systems • 793,487 people served
Multiple Health ViolationsWater Quality Summary
Buffalo is served by 13 public water systems with a combined service population of 793,487 people, and has 308 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 13 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Buffalo's violation count is 161% above the national average for New York. Contaminants associated with violations include Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, TTHM.
Contaminants Found
Eye and nose irritation at high levels; long-term exposure above the MCL may cause liver and kidney damage.
Common source: Water treatment disinfectant added to kill harmful microorganisms
EPA limit: 4.0 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level)
Can cause anemia in infants and young children; may cause nervous system effects at high levels.
Common source: Water treatment disinfectant used to control taste, odor, and microorganisms
EPA limit: 0.8 mg/L
Total trihalomethanes are linked to increased risk of bladder cancer and adverse reproductive outcomes.
Common source: Reaction of chlorine disinfectants with naturally occurring organic matter in water
EPA limit: 0.080 mg/L (80 ppb)
Water Systems Serving Buffalo
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECWA DIRECT | NY1400443 | Surface Water | 335,000 | 2 |
| BUFFALO WATER AUTHORITY | NY1400422 | Surface Water | 276,000 | 6 |
| ECWA AMHERST | NY1400399 | Surface Water | 80,228 | 0 |
| ECWA ORCHARD PARK | NY1421762 | Surface Water | 23,387 | 0 |
| ECWA WEST SENECA | NY1404543 | Surface Water | 23,181 | 0 |
| ECWA LANCASTER | NY1400421 | Surface Water | 21,428 | 0 |
| ECWA EVANS | NY1400445 | Surface Water | 12,417 | 5 |
| ECWA HAMBURG (V) | NY1400515 | Surface Water | 9,744 | 0 |
| ECWA BOSTON | NY1421897 | Surface Water | 6,604 | 0 |
| ECWA NEWSTEAD | NY1422651 | Surface Water | 5,319 | 1 |
| SPRINGVILLE MOBILE VILLAGE | NY1400836 | Groundwater | 90 | 218 |
| TWIN FAWN ESTATES | NY0700786 | Groundwater | 50 | 8 |
| PLEASANT VALLEY MOBILE HOME PK | NY5000755 | Groundwater | 39 | 68 |
Concerned About Your Water?
A home water filter can remove common contaminants. NSF-certified filters are tested against EPA standards.
Consider a reverse osmosis system for comprehensive filtration or a carbon filter for basic improvement.
Other Cities in New York
Data Sources
Drinking water violation data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Data includes all recorded violations for active community water systems.