Is Clay, 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 Clay Water District.
Clay Water District supplies Clay (16,000 people).
Water system
Clay Water District
16,000 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID NY3304344
Buys treated water from Onondaga County Water Authority.
| 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: 4 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.
Clay homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Clay town (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Syracuse 10 mi Onondaga County Water Authority | None above limits | 8 ppb |
| De Witt 11 mi DeWitt Water District – South | None above limits | 3 ppb |
| Auburn 25 mi Auburn Water System | None above limits | 1.17 ppb |
| Rome 35 mi Rome City Water System | None above limits | 5 ppb |
| Utica 49 mi Mohawk Valley Water Authority | None above limits | 9 ppb |
| Perinton 63 mi Monroe County Water Authority | None above limits | 5 ppb |
Clay ZIP codes (5)
- 13029
- 13041
- 13088
- 13090
- 13212
Questions
Is Clay tap water safe to drink?
Clay Water District 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 Clay, NY?
Clay Water District, which serves 16,000 people.
Does Clay tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Clay Water District 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 Clay homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 55% of Clay 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. Clay Water District'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.