Is Auburn, NY tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Auburn Water System.
2 public water systems serve parts of Auburn. The largest, Auburn Water System, serves 27,179 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Auburn Water System
27,179 people · Surface water · EPA ID NY0501710
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
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.
Lead: 1.17 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
Across New York, 31 of 322 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 16 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. New York results.
Auburn homes and lead pipes
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 Auburn city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Other water systems serving Auburn
- Cayuga County Water & Sewer958 people · Purchased surface water · New York · lists this cityNot in EPA's PFAS sample
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Syracuse 23 mi Onondaga County Water Authority | None above limits | 8 ppb |
| Clay 25 mi Clay Water District | None above limits | 4 ppb |
| De Witt 26 mi DeWitt Water District – South | None above limits | 3 ppb |
| Perinton 45 mi Monroe County Water Authority | None above limits | 5 ppb |
| Penfield 47 mi Monroe County Water Authority | None above limits | 5 ppb |
| Webster 49 mi Monroe County Water Authority | None above limits | 5 ppb |
Auburn ZIP codes (2)
- 13021
- 13024
Questions
Is Auburn tap water safe to drink?
Auburn Water System has had no health-based violations since 2016. 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 Auburn, NY?
2 public water systems serve parts of Auburn. The largest is Auburn Water System (27,179 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Auburn tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Auburn Water System had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Auburn homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 88% of Auburn homes as built before 1980 (New York: 74%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Auburn Water System'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.