LEWIS, New York Tap Water Quality

468 people served · 2 water systems

Fair

LEWIS, New York is a rural community with 468 residents served by 2 public water systems. Water service covers ZIP code 12950.

LEWIS has documented several EPA health-based violations in the last five years. Residents may want to review which contaminants triggered the exceedances and consider point-of-use filtration for sensitive uses.

EPA reporting identifies Copper among the regulated contaminants associated with LEWIS's recent health-based violations. Each contaminant has different sources, health implications, and recommended mitigation steps — links to the full EPA reference for each are listed alongside the violation history below.

Last updated: 2026-05-18 · Source: EPA SDWIS

Location

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Centered on ZIP-code centroids of water systems serving this city.

ZIP Codes Served

12950

Health-Based Violations (Last 5 Years)

EPA Maximum Contaminant Level exceedances reported by water systems serving LEWIS. Each entry explains the contaminant, the health risk, and recommended precautions, and links to a full guide.

Copperchemical

EPA Code 1022 · Treatment Technique Violation

violations

EPA Limit

1.3 mg/L

Last Reading

—

First Reported

Jan 2022

Most Recent

Jan 2022

What this violation means

Copper enters drinking water through corroded copper pipes, especially in newer homes with acidic water that hasn't yet developed a protective mineral coating inside the plumbing. Short-term exposure causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Long-term exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.

Recommended precautions

→Run the tap for 30 seconds before using water that has been sitting in pipes.
→Test your water if you notice a metallic taste or blue-green staining on fixtures.
→Reverse osmosis effectively removes copper.
→Adjusting plumbing pH (corrosion control) is typically a utility-level fix.

Read the complete guide to Copper

Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Health-based violations only. Older violations may have been resolved; check your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report for current status.

Water Systems Serving LEWIS

MAGIC PINES MHP

PWSID: NY1521744

40 served

LEWIS WD

PWSID: NY1500285

428 served

3 violations

What Can You Do?

✅ Request your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — required by law.
✅ Use an NSF-certified water filter if violations involve lead, arsenic, or PFAS.
✅ Run cold water for 30 seconds before drinking if you have older plumbing (reduces lead).
✅ Check back monthly — we update data from the EPA every 30 days.

About this data

This overview reflects EPA SDWIS data published as of 2026-05-18. It covers active Community Water Systems (CWS) that exceeded federal Maximum Contaminant Levels during the past five-year EPA reporting window. For up-to-the-minute information, request a current Consumer Confidence Report from your utility, or review the EPA's public dashboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is LEWIS, New York tap water safe to drink?▼

This city's water had several EPA violations in the last 5 years.

How many EPA violations does LEWIS have?▼

LEWIS has 3 EPA health-based water violations in the last 5 years across 2 water systems serving 468 people.

What contaminants have been found in LEWIS water?▼

The following EPA-regulated contaminants have been detected: 1022. View details about each contaminant, health effects, and recommended precautions above in the violations table.

Should I use a water filter in LEWIS?▼

Using an NSF-certified water filter is recommended if your area has violations involving lead, arsenic, or PFAS. For other contaminants, consult your local water utility. Check the annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for detailed guidance.

What should I do if there are violations in LEWIS?▼

Request your water utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which is required by the EPA. Follow the utility's guidance on boil water advisories. Run cold water for 30 seconds before drinking if you have older plumbing. Use an NSF-certified filter if needed based on your water system's violations.