Bronx County, New York: drinking water report. The Bronx – about 1.4 million residents – receives the same NYC DEP watershed water as the rest of New York…
The Bronx – about 1.4 million residents – receives the same NYC DEP watershed water as the rest of New York City, drawn from the Catskill/Delaware and Croton systems. The Bronx is the primary receiving point for Croton system water, which undergoes filtration at the Croton Water Filtration Plant in Van Cortlandt Park (completed in 2015). This $3.2 billion facility was one of the largest public works projects in the city's recent history.
The Croton system, which serves parts of the Bronx, passes through a more developed watershed than the Catskill/Delaware system and therefore requires filtration. The newer treatment plant provides a high level of treatment, and the Bronx benefits from some of the most recently upgraded infrastructure in the city's system.
However, older Bronx housing stock – particularly in the South Bronx – includes buildings with aging internal plumbing that can introduce lead after water leaves city mains. According to the NYC DEP's sampling data, lead levels in the Bronx have been within federal limits at the system level, but individual building results vary. PFAS readings in the city's supply remain below New York State's 10 ppt MCLs.
The Bronx benefits from the city's clean source water and the newer Croton filtration plant. The primary concern is building-level plumbing, especially in older housing.
Check your water for monitoring data in your area. If you are in a pre-war building, running the tap briefly before use and installing a lead-reduction filter are practical steps. Our water filter guide covers affordable options. Get your detailed report for local data, and visit our New York page for statewide context.