Is there PFAS in Buffalo Water Authority water?
No PFAS were detected in any of the 3 samples EPA's program collected.
Buffalo Water Authority is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Buffalo, New York, serving about 276,000 people. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 3 times across 1 sampling point between Feb 2023 and Nov 2023.
Every PFAS detected
None of the 29 PFAS were found at or above EPA's minimum reporting levels (2 to 20 ppt depending on the compound).
Not detected: PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, PFTA, PFMPA, PFBA, 6:2 FTS, 8:2 FTS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFPeA, PFMBA, NFDHA, 4:2 FTS, PFPeS, ADONA, PFEESA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFHxA, PFDoA, PFDA, PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, PFHpA, HFPO-DA, PFHpS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
No PFAS action is needed on these results. If your water tastes or smells of chlorine, a whole-house city water filter is the usual fix.
Other systems in New York
- Veolia Water above an EPA limit
- Ecwa Direct none detected
- New York American Water - Lynbrook 3 PFAS detected
- Yonkers City none detected
- Rochester City none detected
- Ocwa 1 PFAS detected
All 334 tested systems in New York
ZIP codes served
14201 14202 14203 14204 14206 14207 14208 14209 14210 14211 14212 14213 14214 14215 14216 14220 14222
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Buffalo Water Authority water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID NY1400422. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/new-york/buffalo-water-authority/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID NY1400422). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.