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City water profile

Rochester water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

286PPM

17 indexed ZIPs

Range 265.5–290 PPM

State comparison
166 PPM above
State hardness rank
#1 of 55
Matched utilities
1
Active health records
1

City summary

What the indexed records say

Rochester has 17 published ZIP profiles across Monroe County. The indexed median is 286 PPM, compared with 120 PPM across New York.

Among the 55 New Yorkcities with an indexed median, Rochester ranks #1from highest to lowest. Across all 132 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 7.2to 290 PPM.

The 265.5–290 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard17 ZIPs

17 of 17 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
1.6 miles
Profiles with evidence
17/17

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 17Low: 0

Observation window: Feb 1, 2016 to May 6, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Rochester

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

14604

Very Hard

286 PPM

Nearest site
1.2 mi
Confidence
Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

14605

Very Hard

286 PPM

Nearest site
2 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14606

Very Hard

282 PPM

Nearest site
4.6 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14607

Very Hard

286 PPM

Nearest site
1.6 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14608

Very Hard

290 PPM

Nearest site
0.9 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14611

Very Hard

286 PPM

Nearest site
1.6 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14612

Very Hard

282 PPM

Nearest site
1.6 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14613

Very Hard

286 PPM

Nearest site
3 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14614

Very Hard

286 PPM

Nearest site
1.1 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14615

Very Hard

286 PPM

Nearest site
4.2 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14616

Very Hard

282 PPM

Nearest site
2.1 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14619

Very Hard

286 PPM

Nearest site
1.7 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14620

Very Hard

286 PPM

Nearest site
1.1 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14621

Very Hard

290 PPM

Nearest site
3.4 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14624

Very Hard

265.5 PPM

Nearest site
5.9 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14627

Very Hard

286 PPM

Nearest site
1.1 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

14642

Very Hard

286 PPM

Nearest site
1.4 mi
Confidence
Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Rochester City

PWSID NY2704518

Surface water
System population served
210,000
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

1 unique active health-based record appears among associated systems. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
Lead and Copper RuleNY2704518Jan 1, 2025Unaddressed · health-based

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

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

Questions people ask

About water in Rochester

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 286 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.