Here is what the EPA's own data shows about tap water in Buffalo. According to EPA SDWIS data retrieved October 2026, Buffalo is served by 2 active community water systems, together reported to serve about 1,398 people.
As of October 2026, EPA records show 180 violations across the community water system(s) serving Buffalo, going back to the earliest EPA record. 8 of these are classified by the EPA as health-based (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks); the rest are monitoring or reporting violations. Each is listed by system below, with its status.
Health-based Coliform (Pre-TCR): a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in July 1986. The EPA record lists a level of 2 ; the limit (MCL) is 0 . All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring TTHM: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between November 2019 and January 2025. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between November 2019 and January 2025. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2010. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Coliform (Pre-TCR): a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 1989. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Harper Co Rwd #1
198 served · groundwater · PWSID OK2003001
Health-based Coliform (TCR): a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 4 times between September 1992 and August 2012. The EPA record lists a level of 0 ; the limit (MCL) is 0 . All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Health-based Coliform (Pre-TCR): a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 3 times between July 1986 and August 1990. The EPA record lists a level of 3 ; the limit (MCL) is 0 . All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 13 times between January 2004 and January 2026. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Chlorine: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 14 times between July 2022 and August 2025. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Revised Total Coliform Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 12 times between August 2022 and August 2025. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 9 times between July 2006 and July 2025. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 4 times between April 2023 and April 2025. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Combined Uranium: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 4 times between April 2023 and April 2025. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Combined Radium (-226 and -228): a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 4 times between April 2023 and April 2025. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Gross Beta Particle Activity: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 4 times between April 2023 and April 2025. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Xylenes, Total: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring DICHLOROMETHANE: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring o-Dichlorobenzene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring p-Dichlorobenzene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Vinyl chloride: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring 1,1-Dichloroethylene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring 1,2-Dichloroethane: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring 1,1,1-Trichloroethane: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Carbon tetrachloride: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring 1,2-Dichloropropane: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Trichloroethylene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring 1,1,2-Trichloroethane: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Tetrachloroethylene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring CHLOROBENZENE: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Benzene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Toluene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Ethylbenzene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Styrene: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between July 2023 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring E. COLI: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in June 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Nitrate-Nitrite: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring TTHM: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Barium: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Cadmium: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Chromium: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Fluoride: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Mercury: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Nickel: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Antimony, Total: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Beryllium, Total: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Thallium, Total: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Selenium: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Coliform (TCR): a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 15 times between May 2009 and December 2012. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
What this means
A health-based violation means a contaminant was recorded above the limit the EPA tracks for it. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was late or missed — not that a contaminant was measured above a limit. “Returned to compliance” means the EPA recorded the issue as resolved.
This page summarizes the EPA's own records and does not assess whether your water is safe to drink. For the most current details, you can verify every record directly with the EPA, and contact your water system with questions.
Source: U.S. EPA Envirofacts SDWIS, retrieved October 2026. Records cover the EPA's full reporting history for these systems. Verify at EPA ECHO.