Is tap water safe in Albany?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Albany, NY?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 18.7 ppm (1.1 grains per gallon), classified as soft. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 12202?

There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm conditions with an at-home hardness test before purchasing equipment.

City water profile

Albany water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Albany, New York.

Median indexed hardness

15PPM

9 indexed ZIPs

Range 13.3–18.7 PPM

State comparison: 105 PPM below
State hardness rank: #43 of 55
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Albany has 9 published ZIP profiles across Albany County. The indexed median is 15 PPM, compared with 120 PPM across New York.

Among the 55 New Yorkcities with an indexed median, Albany ranks #43from highest to lowest. Across all 132 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 7.2to 290 PPM.

The 13.3–18.7 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft9 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

9 of 9 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 2.9 miles
Profiles with evidence: 9/9

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 9Low: 0

Albany City

PWSID NY0100189

Surface water

System population served: 98,000
Last reported: Jun 25, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Public Notice	NY0100189	Dec 19, 2024	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other New York communities

Cohoes

Albany County

13 PPM median

Waterford

Saratoga County

13 PPM median

Plattsburgh

Clinton County

12 PPM median

Oneida

Madison County

12 PPM median

Rensselaer

Rensselaer County

19 PPM median

Mechanicville

Saratoga County

10 PPM median

Search all 55 New York cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Albany

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 15 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.