Nitrate In Drinking Water In New York
What residents of New York need to know about nitrate in drinking water — including how it enters water, which utilities have documented violations, and what steps to take.
Source: EPA SDWIS, New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is nitrate in drinking water a real concern in New York?
Yes — Long Island's sole-source aquifer has documented nitrate concerns from agricultural legacy and high septic system density; upstate agricultural areas also have elevated groundwater nitrate.
Is this mostly a public-water issue, a private-well issue, or both?
Private well users in agricultural and suburban areas are most at risk; Long Island public systems draw from the same aquifer affected by elevated nitrate.
What is the main reason residents should care?
Long Island relies entirely on a sole-source aquifer for drinking water — the same aquifer receiving nitrate from historical agriculture, suburban fertilizer application, and an estimated 400,000 septic systems on the Island.
Key Facts
| EPA Nitrate MCL | 10 mg/L as N |
| Long Island aquifer | Sole-source aquifer — no alternative water supply; nitrate from farming and septic |
| Long Island septic density | Estimated 400,000 cesspools and septic systems |
| Upstate agricultural concern | Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, Hudson Valley dairy and crop farming |
| State oversight | New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) |
Why This Matters in New York
Long Island has no rivers or reservoirs to dilute its drinking water supply — it relies entirely on the Long Island aquifer system, which is designated as a sole-source aquifer by EPA. This aquifer receives nitrate from historical potato and vegetable farming, extensive suburban lawn fertilizer use, and approximately 400,000 cesspools and septic systems. Nassau County has documented nitrate concerns in its groundwater supply. Upstate New York agricultural regions — the Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, and Hudson Valley — also contribute nitrate loading from dairy and crop farming. NYSDOH requires public water systems to monitor and comply with the 10 mg/L nitrate MCL.
Critical — Infants Under 6 Months
Do not use tap water that exceeds 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen to prepare infant formula or feed infants under six months. Boiling will concentrate nitrate — do not boil. Use bottled water or a certified reverse osmosis system (NSF/ANSI 58) until the issue is resolved.
New York Utilities With Nitrate Violation Records
The utilities listed below have at least one nitrate violation on record in EPA's SDWIS database. Violations may be open or resolved — see individual utility pages for current status and risk level.
Mount Vernon Water Department
Mount Vernon · 73,893 served
Schenectady City Water Works
Schenectady · 61,821 served
White Plains City
White Plains · 59,559 served
Greenlawn Water District
Huntington · 42,000 served
Greenburgh Consolidated Wd #1
Greenburgh · 39,993 served
Riverhead Water District
Riverhead · 35,000 served
Clifton Park Water Authority
Clifton Park · 35,000 served
Dix Hills Water District
Huntington · 34,522 served
Middletown City
Middletown · 30,000 served
Cortlandt Consolidated Wd
Cortlandt · 28,369 served
How Nitrate Gets Into Drinking Water
Agricultural fertilizer and manure runoff
Nitrogen-based fertilizers and animal waste applied to New York cropland can leach into groundwater or run off into surface water supplies. This is the dominant nitrate pathway in most agricultural regions.
Septic system effluent
Failing or poorly sited septic systems release nitrogen-rich wastewater near drinking water wells. Rural areas with high well density and aging septic infrastructure face elevated risk.
Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)
Large livestock facilities generate significant waste. Lagoon leaks and overapplication of manure to nearby fields can create localized nitrate hotspots in groundwater.
Natural geological deposits
In some regions, naturally occurring nitrogen compounds in soil and bedrock contribute background nitrate levels to groundwater independent of agricultural activity.
Who Should Pay Closest Attention
Long Island residents on private wells, families with infants on Long Island or in rural upstate agricultural counties, and households in areas with documented nitrate detections should consider certified filtration or an alternative water source for infant formula preparation.
Households with infants under six months
Pregnant residents
Private well owners in agricultural areas
Households near livestock operations or CAFOs
Rural residents on shallow groundwater wells
Households with older or failing septic systems nearby
How to Check Your Situation in New York
- 1
Identify your water utility. Use the ZIP lookup below or browse the New York utility directory on this site.
- 2
Read your utility's page on this site to see its current risk level and any open nitrate violations.
- 3
Review your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — mailed annually or available on the utility's website. It must disclose any MCL exceedances.
- 4
If you are on a private well, arrange testing at a New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH)-certified lab. Your state health department maintains a list of certified labs. Annual testing is recommended in agricultural areas.
- 5
If you have an infant under six months, use bottled water or a certified RO system (NSF/ANSI 58) immediately as a precautionary measure — do not wait for test results if you are in a high-risk area.
- 6
If your utility issues a nitrate exceedance notice, follow their guidance and do not use tap water for infants until the issue is resolved.
Treatment Options
Carbon filters and boiling do not remove nitrate. Only the options below are effective.
NSF/ANSI Standard 58 — Reverse Osmosis
RO systems certified to NSF/ANSI 58 reduce nitrate by 85–95% at the point of use. Under-sink installation required. The most practical residential option for nitrate concerns.
Distillation
Distillation units effectively remove nitrate along with most other dissolved contaminants. Suitable for drinking and cooking water — not whole-house use.
Anion Exchange
Ion exchange systems designed for nitrate removal exchange nitrate ions for chloride on a resin bed. Effective as a point-of-entry system; requires periodic regeneration and monitoring.
Carbon filters do NOT remove nitrate
Standard pitcher filters, faucet filters, and under-sink carbon units — including those certified NSF/ANSI 42 or 53 — do not remove nitrate. Do not use these for nitrate reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
Nitrate — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with nitrate records
New York State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Lead in Drinking Water
A separate but common concern
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 85–95% of nitrate
Well Water Guide
Private well testing and safety
All Contaminants
Complete reference library
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.
Find Your Utility
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New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) ↗