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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
Side-by-side comparison of tap water quality
| Metric | New York | Boston | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 95/100 | 86/100 | New York |
| Grade | A+ | A- | - |
| Contaminants Tested | 0 | 10 | - |
| Above EPA Limits | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| EPA Violations (Unresolved) | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| Water Source | mixed | surface | - |
| Population Served | 9,800,000 | 697,322 | - |
Side-by-side contaminant levels as percentage of EPA limits
| Contaminant | New York | Boston | EPA Limit | Lower Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes | Not tested | 17.12 ug/L (21.4% of limit) | 80.00 ug/L | N/A |
| Haloacetic Acids | Not tested | 12.53 ug/L (20.9% of limit) | 60.00 ug/L | N/A |
| Fluoride | Not tested | 0.784 mg/L (19.6% of limit) | 4.00 mg/L | N/A |
| Lead | Not tested | 0.0015 mg/L (10.0% of limit) | 0.015 mg/L | N/A |
| Copper | Not tested | 0.124 mg/L (9.5% of limit) | 1.30 mg/L | N/A |
| Chromium | Not tested | 0.0093 mg/L (9.3% of limit) | 0.100 mg/L | N/A |
| Arsenic | Not tested | 0.0009 mg/L (8.9% of limit) | 0.010 mg/L | N/A |
| Mercury | Not tested | 0.0001 mg/L (5.6% of limit) | 0.0020 mg/L | N/A |
| Nitrate | Not tested | 0.553 mg/L (5.5% of limit) | 10.00 mg/L | N/A |
| Nitrite | Not tested | 0.0086 mg/L (0.9% of limit) | 1.00 mg/L | N/A |
Based on contaminants detected in each city
New York's water quality is good. An activated carbon filter would improve taste and provide extra protection.
Boston's water quality is good. An activated carbon filter would improve taste and provide extra protection.
New York outperforms Boston in overall water quality, scoring 95/100 compared to 86/100. This 9-point difference reflects meaningful distinctions in contaminant levels, EPA compliance history, and water infrastructure quality. The gap is driven by differences in source water protection, treatment technology, distribution system age, and the regulatory track record of each city's water utility. Residents in both cities should understand what these scores mean for their daily water use and health.
New York draws from mixed sources serving approximately 9,800,000 people, while Boston relies on surface sources serving about 697,322 residents. The type of source water significantly affects the contaminants that must be addressed during treatment. Surface water sources such as rivers and reservoirs are more susceptible to agricultural runoff, microbial contamination, and seasonal turbidity, while groundwater sources may contain naturally occurring minerals like arsenic, radium, or fluoride depending on local geology. Both cities treat their water to meet EPA standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act, but the specific treatment processes and their effectiveness vary based on the challenges posed by each source.
Water quality scores are based on EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System) data, which tracks contaminant testing results, compliance violations, and system characteristics for every public water system in the United States. A higher score indicates fewer detected contaminants, better compliance with federal regulations, and stronger infrastructure. However, no water system is perfect, and conditions can change due to aging pipes, seasonal variations, upstream pollution events, or changes in treatment processes. Regardless of your city's score, monitoring your local utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report and considering point-of-use filtration are prudent steps for protecting your household's water quality.
New York has better overall water quality with a score of 95/100 (Grade A+). Higher overall quality score (95 vs 86)
Yes, New York's tap water generally meets EPA safety standards with a quality score of 95/100 (Grade A+).
Yes, Boston's tap water generally meets EPA safety standards with a quality score of 86/100 (Grade A-).
Water filters can provide additional protection and improve taste regardless of your city's water quality score. Both cities have good water quality, but a basic activated carbon filter can still improve taste.