Color in U.S. Drinking Water
Health-based violation data for Color from EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Covers all community water systems with violations on record.
Color has been found in violation of EPA standards in 8 water systems across 1 states, with 17 total health-based violations recorded. The most affected states are New York.
Color is regulated under the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act, which sets enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and associated treatment technique requirements for public water systems. The EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) tracks every recorded violation nationwide and links it back to the specific public water system (PWSID), violation type, and begin date.
Across the United States, PlainEnviro's joined extract contains 17 health-based violation records carrying Color (EPA code 1905) across 8 active community water systems in 1 state. Raw record counts are highest in New York, with New York accounting for 12 records across 6 systems. Health-effect prose is shown only when the official ECHO substance name matches a verified topic; otherwise the portal stays silent rather than inventing guidance.
A health-based violation does not mean residents were necessarily harmed, it means the contaminant exceeded the federal MCL in a compliance sample, triggering notification and remediation requirements. States and utilities maintain primary enforcement responsibility. To check the status of a specific water system, request its most recent Consumer Confidence Report or consult the EPA's Drinking Water Watch portal for the corresponding state.
Violations by State
States ranked by number of health-based violations for Color.
| # | State | Violations | Systems Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 12 | 6 |
Most Affected Water Systems
Top 50 water systems by number of Color health-based violations.
| Water System | State | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| OCEAN BEACH WATER DISTRICT | NY | 3 |
| FISHERS ISLAND WATER WORKS | NY | 3 |
| RIVER VALLEY ESTATES (EX FOXCROFT) MHP | NY | 2 |
| KIAMESHA ARTESIAN SPRING WATER COMPANY | NY | 2 |
| PECONIC VIEW MOBILE HOME PARK | NY | 1 |
| CALVERTON HILLS OWNERS ASSOCIATION | NY | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Color in my water?
Color has been detected in violation of EPA health standards in 8 water systems across 1 states. To check your specific utility, look up your annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - water systems are required to disclose all violations.
How many water systems have Color violations?
EPA SDWIS records show 8 community water systems with health-based Color violations, totaling 17 violations. These represent cases where the contaminant exceeded the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).
Which states have the most Color violations?
The states with the most Color violations are: New York (12 violations).
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About This Data
Violation data is from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Only health-based violations are shown, these include Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and Treatment Technique (TT) violations. Monitoring and reporting violations are excluded. Data may not reflect the most current enforcement actions.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SDWIS Federal Reporting Services
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.