Is North Tonawanda, 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 North Tonawanda City Water System.
North Tonawanda City Water System supplies North Tonawanda (31,568 people).
Water system
North Tonawanda City Water System
31,568 people · Surface water · EPA ID NY3100572
Buys treated water from Niagara County Water District.
| 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: 5.7 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2023, 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.
North Tonawanda 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 North Tonawanda city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Amherst 6 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| Niagara Falls 8 mi Niagara Falls Water Board | None above limits | 5.9 ppb |
| Buffalo 11 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| Clarence 11 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| Lancaster 15 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| Hamburg 21 mi Erie County Water Authority Direct | None above limits | 6 ppb |
North Tonawanda ZIP codes (1)
- 14120
Questions
Is North Tonawanda tap water safe to drink?
North Tonawanda City 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 North Tonawanda, NY?
North Tonawanda City Water System, which serves 31,568 people.
Does North Tonawanda tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. North Tonawanda City 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 North Tonawanda homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 87% of North Tonawanda 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. North Tonawanda City 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.