Public water system · NY3530057
ActiveHighlands Water District
At a glance
Highlands Water District (PWSID NY3530057) is an active community water system in Orange County, New York. It reports serving 2,200 people through 306 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2015.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,200
Service connections
306
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Highlands Water District compare with other water systems in Orange County?
By EPA's size categories, Highlands Water District is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Orange County has 451 active public water systems. Its population served is about 139% above the county average of 921 people per system, and accounts for 0.5% of the 415,298 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 Highlands Water District is well below 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. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 399 New York systems (4.9%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Highlands Water District?
EPA lists Highlands Water District as owned by a local government. 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. 106 of the 451 active systems in Orange County (24%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Highlands Water District have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2015. The violations listed here began between July 2000 and August 2015. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminants or rules involved are Total coliform bacteria (TCR), Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), Haloacetic acids (HAA5) and Lead and Copper Rule. EPA lists 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2000-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
All 5 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.
Highlands Water District: frequently asked questions
Who runs Highlands Water District?
Highlands Water District (PWSID NY3530057) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the NY state drinking water program.
How many people does Highlands Water District serve?
Highlands Water District reports serving 2,200 people through 306 service connections in Orange County, New York.
Where does Highlands Water District get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Highlands Water District have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 5 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2015. 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 Highlands Water District'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 5 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in August 2015. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the NY state drinking water program.
Where can I find Highlands Water District's water quality report?
As a community water system, Highlands Water District 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 Orange County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel | Orange | 51,623 | Community | Groundwater |
| Middletown City | Orange | 30,000 | Community | Surface water |
| Newburgh City | Orange | 29,000 | Community | Surface water |
| New Windsor Consolidated Wd | Orange | 25,667 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Newburgh Consolidated Wd | Orange | 22,282 | Community | Surface water |
| Wallkill Consolidated Wd | Orange | 18,450 | 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, “Highlands Water District, PWSID NY3530057, New York”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/new-york/highlands-water-district-ny3530057 (data as of October 1, 2026).