We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in New York to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Perry, New York
Perry has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 77 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Perry water report →Fort Drum, New York
Fort Drum has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 45 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fort Drum water report →Port Washington, New York
Port Washington has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 43 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Port Washington water report →Armonk, New York
Armonk has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 36 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Armonk water report →Hillburn, New York
Hillburn has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 65 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hillburn water report →Mount Kisco, New York
Mount Kisco has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 46 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Mount Kisco water report →Millbrook, New York
Millbrook has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Millbrook water report →West Nyack, New York
West Nyack has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 65 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full West Nyack water report →Hoosick Falls, New York
Hoosick Falls has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 38 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hoosick Falls water report →Morgantown, New York
Morgantown has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 32 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Morgantown water report →Suffern, New York
Suffern has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Suffern water report →North Salem, New York
North Salem has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full North Salem water report →Vestal, New York
Vestal has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Vestal water report →Wappingers Falls, New York
Wappingers Falls has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Wappingers Falls water report →Nyack, New York
Nyack has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Nyack water report →Lincolndale, New York
Lincolndale has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lincolndale water report →Ossining, New York
Ossining has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ossining water report →Bedford Hills, New York
Bedford Hills has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bedford Hills water report →Somers, New York
Somers has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Somers water report →Delmar, New York
Delmar has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 35 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Delmar water report →Slingerlands, New York
Slingerlands has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 35 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Slingerlands water report →Pleasantville, New York
Pleasantville has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Pleasantville water report →Charlton, New York
Charlton has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Charlton water report →Batavia, New York
Batavia has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Batavia water report →Peekskill, New York
Peekskill has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Peekskill water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 467 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 19 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 448 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perry | NY | 77 | 21 | 0 | 4,348 |
| 2 | Fort Drum | NY | 45 | 21 | 0 | 34,400 |
| 3 | Port Washington | NY | 43 | 21 | 0 | 34,000 |
| 4 | Armonk | NY | 36 | 21 | 2 | 2,525 |
| 5 | Hillburn | NY | 65 | 20 | 1 | 950 |
| 6 | Mount Kisco | NY | 46 | 20 | 0 | 9,620 |
| 7 | Millbrook | NY | 29 | 20 | 2 | 350 |
| 8 | West Nyack | NY | 65 | 19 | 1 | 270,950 |
| 9 | Hoosick Falls | NY | 38 | 19 | 2 | 4,925 |
| 10 | Morgantown | NY | 32 | 19 | 0 | 212 |
| 11 | Suffern | NY | 30 | 19 | 2 | 12,000 |
| 12 | North Salem | NY | 27 | 19 | 2 | 625 |
| 13 | Vestal | NY | 31 | 18 | 0 | 20,950 |
| 14 | Wappingers Falls | NY | 30 | 18 | 0 | 14,000 |
| 15 | Nyack | NY | 29 | 18 | 2 | 14,700 |
| 16 | Lincolndale | NY | 29 | 18 | 0 | 500 |
| 17 | Ossining | NY | 27 | 18 | 0 | 30,000 |
| 18 | Bedford Hills | NY | 27 | 18 | 2 | 1,800 |
| 19 | Somers | NY | 27 | 18 | 2 | 956 |
| 20 | Delmar | NY | 35 | 17 | 0 | 62,062 |
| 21 | Slingerlands | NY | 35 | 17 | 0 | 450 |
| 22 | Pleasantville | NY | 31 | 17 | 0 | 10,214 |
| 23 | Charlton | NY | 31 | 17 | 1 | 2,000 |
| 24 | Batavia | NY | 28 | 17 | 0 | 21,970 |
| 25 | Peekskill | NY | 27 | 17 | 0 | 52,969 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in New York?
Based on 2026 data, Perry, NY has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
