Is Meriden, CT tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

Regional Water Authority, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA, PFOS) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing.

Is it an emergency? No: PFAS limits are about years of exposure, not a glass of water, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.

3 public water systems serve parts of Meriden. The largest, Regional Water Authority, serves 418,900 people, and 2 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Regional Water Authority

418,900 people · Surface water · EPA ID CT0930011

Buys treated water from Wallingford Water Department, Southington Water Department, Aquarion-East Derby, Aquarion-Valley, Connecticut Water Company – Shoreline Region-Guilford System.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	6.7 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Above limit	9.4 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

For context: the PFOA average is higher than at 82% of the Connecticut systems EPA tested and the PFOS average is higher than at 90% of the Connecticut systems EPA tested.

Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full Regional Water Authority results

Across Connecticut, 29 of 62 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 1 system were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Connecticut results.

Meriden homes and lead pipes

75%

of homes built before 1980 (Connecticut 67%, US 50%)

35%

built before 1950 (Connecticut 27%)

40%

of households rent (Connecticut 34%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Meriden city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Meriden

Meriden Water Division
58,441 people · Surface water · Connecticut · lists this city
PFOS above limitAlso: Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violation · PFOA detected · PFHxS detected
Meriden Care Center LLC-Silver Springs
334 people · Purchased surface water · Connecticut · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Middletown 7 mi Middletown Water Department	Middletown Water Department	None above limits	0 ppb
New Britain 10 mi New Britain Water Department	New Britain Water Department	None above limits	0 ppb
Bristol 13 mi Bristol Water Department	Bristol Water Department	Above limit	0 ppb
Waterbury 13 mi Waterbury Water Department	Waterbury Water Department	None above limits	0.05 ppb
Naugatuck 14 mi Connecticut Water Company – Naugatuck Region-Central System	Connecticut Water Company – Naugatuck Region-Central System	None above limits	0 ppb
Hartford 17 mi Metropolitan District Commission	Metropolitan District Commission	None above limits	0 ppb

Meriden ZIP codes (2)

06450
06451

Questions

Is Meriden tap water safe to drink?

Regional Water Authority has had no health-based violations since 2016, and EPA testing found PFAS above the 2024 federal limits, which it must meet by 2029. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Meriden, CT?

3 public water systems serve parts of Meriden. The largest is Regional Water Authority (418,900 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Meriden tap water have PFAS?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOA and PFOS at Regional Water Authority. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.

Do Meriden homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 75% of Meriden homes as built before 1980 (Connecticut: 67%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Regional Water Authority's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.