About NYC Water

Does NYC have great water? Well, yes and no.

Two glasses of water - one very turbid, the other clear

Yes

High levels of dirt particles (Total Suspended Solids).

Average TSS load is about the maximum contaminant level (mcl) set by the EPA.

High levels of TSS compromise water transparency and can cause “brown water” conditions.

Low levels of unclassified substances (Total Dissolved Solids).

The average TDS level is about the same as a bottle of Poland Spring.

Over 99% of the particles in New York City water are smaller than 15 microns. Other water quality factors that separate NYC tap water from bottled-quality water include Chlorine, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Zinc and Trihalomethanes (a disinfection byproduct). These factors are present at variable levels but constant. Cryptosporidium cysts are episodic, i.e. present occasionally.