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Bethel Water Co

What EPA’s and New York’s records show in this utility’s water: nitrate, arsenic and other regulated chemicals; lead and copper; and violations since 2016, with the certification that handles each result.

Serves
177 people
Connections
176
Water source
Groundwater
Based in
Bethel (T), NY
County
Sullivan
Owner
Private
The ZIP code it serves

12749

The short answer

2 results are above the health goal. The worst: Arsenic, above the health goal. No health-based violations on file since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

Arsenic, uranium and nitrate: New York’s yearly summaries per water system, 2020 to 2024, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.

Chromium (total) and fluoride: EPA’s compliance monitoring file, samples taken from Feb. 20, 2014 to July 11, 2017. Newer results are in the utility’s annual water quality report.

Above the health goal2

Arsenic

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

3.3ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2023

2023 average: 2.4 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 3.3 ppb, in 2020: below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. In 2023, the latest year on file, it averaged 2.4 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 3.5 ppb, in 2014.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”

Uranium

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

5.8ppb

Highest yearly average, 2021

Averaged by year, the highest was 5.8 ppb, in 2021: below EPA’s legal limit of 30 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. Its highest single sample was 7.4 ppb. That is the only year on file. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 11 ppb, in 2013.

What handles it

Below EPA’s limits1

Nitrate

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

0.51ppm

Highest sample; found in 5 of 5

2024 average: 0.27 ppm

The highest sample, in 2022, was 0.51 ppm, below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm. In 2024, the latest year on file, it averaged 0.27 ppm. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest sample of 0.45 ppm, in 2015.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)”
3 compounds tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
  • Chromium (total)
  • Fluoride
  • Lead

What handles it

A certification covers specific claims, not a whole standard. Look for these claims on the certifier’s listing, not the box. Wording varies a little: NSF writes “Lead Reduction,” WQA just “Lead.”

  • NSF/ANSI 53

    Claim: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Arsenic

    Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (III) (50 ppb influent level)

  • NSF/ANSI 58

    Claims: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction, Uranium

    For: Arsenic, Uranium

    Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=300 ppb Reduction; Arsenic (V) (300 ppb influent level)

At the tap, or for the whole house?

These come with the water itself, so a whole-house system certified for the same claims treats every tap and shower. A filter at the tap treats drinking water for much less. How whole-house systems compare.

Filters with those claims on a certifier’s listing

Disclosure: TapBuff earns a commission if you buy through some links on this page. It does not change which standard or filter we name. As an Amazon Associate, TapBuff earns from qualifying purchases. How TapBuff makes money

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Violations since 2016

No health-based violations on file with EPA since 2016. There are 2 monitoring or reporting violations: a sample missed, late or not reported.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Arsenic, uranium and nitrate results here are New York’s own yearly summaries from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Chromium (total) and fluoride come from EPA’s file alone, which ends in 2019. Bethel Water Co’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has newer results for those and the contaminants this page does not show.

  • Your own plumbing. Lead results are the 90th percentile across homes the utility samples. Your home’s service line, solder and fixtures decide yours. A certified lab test is the only way to know.

  • What it means for your health. This page reports what the records show and EPA’s limits and goals; it is not medical advice. If you are worried about a health effect, talk to a doctor or your local health department.

  • Anything after the latest data. SDWIS data is from 2026 Q3; UCMR 5 didn’t sample this utility; New York’s yearly summaries cover 2020 to 2024; EPA’s compliance samples are from Feb. 20, 2014 to July 11, 2017.

Testing your own tap

Bethel Water Co’s results are for the water it sends out. What your own service line, solder and fixtures add shows up only in a test of your tap, by a lab New York certifies.

The 3 labs New York certifies closest to the area Bethel Water Co serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • AG Environmental RSC LLC Dba Sullivan County Labs

    Ferndale, NY · about 5 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics

    (845) 704-8151

  • Ocl Analytical Services

    Bloomingburg, NY · about 23 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, minerals and other inorganics

    (845) 733-1557

  • Aqua Check Laboratories, Inc.

    Stone Ridge, NY · about 36 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (845) 687-0420

All 161 certified labs for New York

Sources

PWSID NY5203320. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Also in Sullivan County

All New York utilities

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