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Orwell WD

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
150 people
Connections
90
Water source
Groundwater influenced by surface water
Based in
Orwell (T), NY
County
Oswego
Owner
Local government
The ZIP code it serves

13144

The short answer

1 result is above the health goal. The worst: Nitrate, above the health goal. No health-based violations on file since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

Nitrate, haloacetic acids (HAA5), total trihalomethanes (TTHM) and arsenic: New York’s yearly summaries per water system, 2020 to 2024, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.

Fluoride and chromium (total): EPA’s compliance monitoring file, samples taken from Feb. 5, 2012 to Aug. 6, 2019. Newer results are in the utility’s annual water quality report.

Above the health goal1

Nitrate

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

14.7ppm

Highest sample; found in 50 of 51

2024 average: 4.3 ppm

The highest sample, in 2022, was 14.7 ppm, above EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm. In 2024, the latest year on file, it averaged 4.3 ppm. EPA judges this limit on running averages at each sampling point, and recorded no violation for nitrate at this utility since 2020. Results like these with no violation often include water sampled before treatment or blending; the utility’s annual report says what reaches the tap. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest sample of 8.3 ppm, in 2019.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)”

Below EPA’s limits3

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

9.5ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2024

2024 average: 1.1 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 9.5 ppb, in 2022, below EPA’s legal limit of 60 ppb. In 2024, the latest year on file, it averaged 1.1 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 8.1 ppb, in 2017.

What handles it

No certification claim covers this compound yet.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

11.1ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2024

2024 average: 7.0 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 11.1 ppb, in 2023, below EPA’s legal limit of 80 ppb. In 2024, the latest year on file, it averaged 7.0 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 15.2 ppb, in 2019.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”

Fluoride

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

0.49ppm

Highest yearly average, 2012 to 2019

2019: not found

Averaged by year, the highest was 0.49 ppm, in 2012, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. In 2019, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in its one sample.

What handles it

3 compounds tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
  • Arsenic
  • Chromium (total)
  • 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: Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)

    For: Nitrate

  • NSF/ANSI 58

    Claim: Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction

    For: Nitrate

    Other certifiers’ wording: Nitrate

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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The best reverse osmosis systems, ranked

Violations since 2016

No health-based violations on file with EPA since 2016. There are 19 monitoring or reporting violations: a sample missed, late or not reported.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Nitrate, haloacetic acids (HAA5), total trihalomethanes (TTHM) and arsenic results here are New York’s own yearly summaries from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Fluoride and chromium (total) come from EPA’s file alone, which ends in 2019. Orwell WD’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. 5, 2012 to Aug. 6, 2019.

Testing your own tap

Orwell WD’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 Orwell WD serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • Oswego Water Treatment Plant Lab

    Oswego, NY · about 26 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (315) 342-8187

  • Converse Laboratories Inc.

    Watertown, NY · about 28 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (315) 788-8388

  • Certified Environmental Services Inc.

    North Syracuse, NY · about 31 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, minerals and other inorganics

    (315) 478-2374

All 161 certified labs for New York

Sources

PWSID NY3704360. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Also in Oswego County

All New York utilities

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