Is Jamestown, 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 Jamestown BPU.
Jamestown BPU supplies Jamestown (46,712 people).
Water system
Jamestown BPU
46,712 people · Groundwater · EPA ID NY0600366
| 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: 3.2 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.
Jamestown 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 Jamestown city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Hamburg 48 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| Orchard Park 52 mi Erie County Water Authority Orchard Park | Not tested | 9.85 ppb |
| Buffalo 58 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| Lancaster 64 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| Amherst 68 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| North Tonawanda 68 mi North Tonawanda City Water System | None above limits | 5.7 ppb |
Jamestown ZIP codes (1)
- 14701
Questions
Is Jamestown tap water safe to drink?
Jamestown BPU 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 Jamestown, NY?
Jamestown BPU, which serves 46,712 people.
Does Jamestown tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Jamestown BPU 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 Jamestown homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 92% of Jamestown 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. Jamestown BPU'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.