Public water system · NY5417686
ActiveCornell University
At a glance
Cornell University (PWSID NY5417686) is an active community water system in Tompkins County, New York. It reports serving 31,581 people through 239 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as privately owned. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2023.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
31,581
Service connections
239
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Cornell University compare with other water systems in Tompkins County?
By EPA's size categories, Cornell University is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Tompkins County has 111 active public water systems, and Cornell University is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 34 times the county average of 927 people per system, and accounts for 31% of the 102,856 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across New York, the 8,167 active systems average 2,374 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Cornell University is about 4.7 times that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. New York has 2,281 active community water systems, 28% of the state's 8,167 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 296 New York systems (3.6%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Cornell University?
EPA lists Cornell University as privately owned. The NY state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 90 of the 111 active systems in Tompkins County (81%) are also privately owned.
Does Cornell University have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2023. The violations listed here began between October 2002 and April 2023. By type: 3 monitoring and reporting and 3 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 6 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2003-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2002-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
All 6 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Cornell University: frequently asked questions
Who runs Cornell University?
Cornell University (PWSID NY5417686) is a community water system privately owned. It is regulated by the NY state drinking water program.
How many people does Cornell University serve?
Cornell University reports serving 31,581 people through 239 service connections in Tompkins County, New York.
Where does Cornell University get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Cornell University have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2023. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Cornell University's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the NY state drinking water program.
Where can I find Cornell University's water quality report?
As a community water system, Cornell University must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Tompkins County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca City | Tompkins | 29,457 | Community | Surface water |
| Ithaca Town Wd | Tompkins | 13,000 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Cayuga Heights Village | Tompkins | 3,170 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Lansing (V) | Tompkins | 3,100 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Lansing (T) Consolidated Wd | Tompkins | 3,000 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Groton Village | Tompkins | 2,470 | Community | Groundwater under influence of surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Cornell University, PWSID NY5417686, New York”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/new-york/cornell-university-ny5417686 (data as of October 1, 2026).