New York · population 33,768
Lead pipes in Ithaca, NY
728 lead or galvanized lines to replace
Most of Ithaca (population 33,768) gets its water from Ithaca City. That system reported 435 lead and 293 galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines out of 5,496, with 637 more of unknown material.
13% of Ithaca City's service lines are lead or galvanized requiring replacement, higher than the New York average (7.6%) and higher than the national average (3.1%).
- Lead 7.9%
- Galvanized (replace) 5.3%
- Unknown 12%
- Non-lead 75%
Latest lead test for Ithaca City (Jan 2023–Dec 2025): 2.4 ppb at the 90th percentile, against a 15 ppb federal action level. Full test history.
Compliance record: EPA lists no Lead and Copper Rule violations since 2015 for Ithaca City.
Water systems serving Ithaca
| Water system | Lead | Galv. | Unknown | % lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca CityMain system | 435 | 293 | 637 | 13% |
| Cayuga Heights VillageAlso serves parts of the city | 26 | 21 | 12 | 5.1% |
| Ithaca Town WDAlso serves parts of the city | 3 | 8 | 34 | 0.3% |
| Cornell UniversityAlso serves parts of the city | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1.9% |
| Lansing (V)Also serves parts of the city | 0 | 1 | 35 | 0.1% |
Matched from EPA water system service area boundaries and the cities each system reports serving. Edges of the city may be served by a neighboring system; your water bill names your utility.
Check your address in Ithaca
The counts above cover the whole water system. To see whether your line is lead, look up your address on Ithaca City's official inventory. Utilities had to make these public by October 16, 2024.
No map yet? Do the 2-minute scratch and magnet test.
Protect your drinking water
If your line is lead, galvanized or unknown, use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead for drinking, cooking and baby formula, and use only cold water.
Choosing a lead-certified filter · Testing your water · Replacement cost
Nearby cities
- Cayuga Heights47 lead + galv. lines
- Lansing2 lead + galv. lines
- Drydenno lead reported
- Montour Fallsno lead reported
- Watkins Glenno lead reported
- Cortlandno lead reported
- Homer70 lead + galv. lines
- Horseheads154 lead + galv. lines
Check another water system
Questions
Does Ithaca, NY have lead pipes?
Yes. Ithaca City, which serves Ithaca, reported 435 lead and 293 galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines, plus 637 of unknown material.
Who supplies water to Ithaca?
EPA's service area maps place most of Ithaca in Ithaca City's service area (PWSID NY5404416). Cayuga Heights Village, Ithaca Town WD, Cornell University, Lansing (V) also serve parts of the city or nearby areas.
How do I check whether my Ithaca home has a lead service line?
Search your address on Ithaca City's service line inventory map. You can also scratch the pipe where water enters your home: lead is soft, dull gray, scratches to shiny silver and doesn't attract a magnet.
When will lead pipes in Ithaca be replaced?
EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements require most systems to replace lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines by December 31, 2037. Ask Ithaca City whether your street is scheduled and whether it covers the private side.