Is North Hempstead, NY tap water safe?

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

Water Authority of Western Nassau, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA) 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.

8 public water systems serve parts of North Hempstead. The largest, Water Authority of Western Nassau, serves 120,000 people, and 4 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Water Authority of Western Nassau

120,000 people · Groundwater · EPA ID NY2902830

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	5 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS One sample above limit	3.05 ppt	4 ppt	One sample above limit
PFHxS Detected, below limit	2.25 ppt	10 ppt	Detected, below limit
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 93% of the New York systems EPA tested.

Lead: 1.4 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2024, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full Water Authority of Western Nassau results

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.

North Hempstead homes and lead pipes

82%

of homes built before 1980 (New York 74%, US 50%)

37%

built before 1950 (New York 38%)

21%

of households rent (New York 46%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Water Authority of Western Nassau publishes a service line inventory you can search by address. Look up your address. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for North Hempstead town (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 North Hempstead
Manhasset Lakeville Water District 43,000 people	11020, 11021, 11023, 11030, 11042, 11576
Water Authority of Western Nassau 120,000 people	11040, 11568, 11596
Albertson Water District 13,500 people	11507, 11577
Carle Place Water District 9,005 people	11501, 11514
Port Washington Water District 34,000 people	11050
Water Authority of Great Neck North 31,400 people	11024
Westbury Water District 20,500 people	11590

Other water systems serving North Hempstead

Manhasset Lakeville Water District
43,000 people · Groundwater · New York · lists this city
PFOA above limitAlso: PFNA detected
Port Washington Water District
34,000 people · Groundwater · New York · lists this city
PFOA detectedAlso: PFOS detected · PFNA detected
Water Authority of Great Neck North
31,400 people · Groundwater · New York · lists this city
No PFAS above limits
Westbury Water District
20,500 people · Groundwater · New York · lists this city
PFOA above limit
Albertson Water District
13,500 people · Groundwater · New York · lists this city
PFOA above limitAlso: PFOS detected · PFHxS detected · PFNA detected
Carle Place Water District
9,005 people · Groundwater · New York · lists this city
No PFAS above limits

1 more systems

Village of Sands Point
2,900 people · Groundwater · New York · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Glen Cove 6 mi Glen Cove City Water System	Glen Cove City Water System	Above limit	3.9 ppb
Oyster Bay 9 mi Jericho Water District	Jericho Water District	None above limits	2 ppb
Mamaroneck 9 mi Westchester Joint Water Works	Westchester Joint Water Works	None above limits	3 ppb
New Rochelle 10 mi Veolia Water New York, Inc. Rd-1	Veolia Water New York, Inc. Rd-1	None above limits	12.2 ppb
Rockville Centre 10 mi Village of Rockville Centre	Village of Rockville Centre	None above limits	1 ppb
Mount Vernon 11 mi Mount Vernon Water Department	Mount Vernon Water Department	None above limits	7.12 ppb

Questions

Is North Hempstead tap water safe to drink?

Water Authority of Western Nassau 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 North Hempstead, NY?

8 public water systems serve parts of North Hempstead. The largest is Water Authority of Western Nassau (120,000 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does North Hempstead tap water have PFAS?

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

Do North Hempstead homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 82% of North Hempstead 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. Water Authority of Western Nassau'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.