Is Buffalo, 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 Erie County Water Authority Direct.
2 public water systems serve parts of Buffalo. The largest, Erie County Water Authority Direct, serves 313,380 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Erie County Water Authority Direct
313,380 people · Surface water · EPA ID NY1400443
| 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: 6 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, 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.
Buffalo homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Erie County Water Authority Direct publishes a service line inventory you can search by address. Look up your address. 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 Buffalo city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Which system serves your ZIP code
Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.
| System | ZIP codes in Buffalo |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Water Authority 276,000 people | 14201, 14202, 14204, 14207, 14208, 14209, 14213, 14214, 14216, 14222 |
| Erie County Water Authority Direct 313,380 people | 14203, 14206, 14210, 14211, 14212, 14215, 14220 |
Other water systems serving Buffalo
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Amherst 10 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| Hamburg 11 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| North Tonawanda 11 mi North Tonawanda City Water System | None above limits | 5.7 ppb |
| Orchard Park 11 mi Erie County Water Authority Orchard Park | Not tested | 9.85 ppb |
| Lancaster 12 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| Clarence 14 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
Questions
Is Buffalo tap water safe to drink?
Erie County Water Authority Direct 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 Buffalo, NY?
2 public water systems serve parts of Buffalo. The largest is Erie County Water Authority Direct (313,380 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Buffalo tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Erie County Water Authority Direct 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 Buffalo homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 90% of Buffalo 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. Erie County Water Authority Direct'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.