Connecticut Water Quality Reports

Connecticut's water quality varies significantly from town to town. Urban systems like Waterbury and Bridgeport draw from surface reservoirs that collect agricultural runoff and industrial discharge, resulting in higher detection counts (up to 119 contaminants). Smaller towns often rely on a single well or spring, with fewer detections but concentrated exposure to geology-driven contaminants like arsenic and radon.

Disinfection byproducts — formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter — are the most common contaminants statewide. Haloacetic acids (HAA5) and trihalomethanes appear in nearly every public system. Lead is detected widely due to Connecticut's aging infrastructure; homes built before 1986 are most at risk from lead solder in pipes.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are an emerging concern across the state. Connecticut adopted a Maximum Contaminant Level of 12 parts per trillion for five PFAS compounds in 2023, among the strictest state standards in the country. Private well owners are not covered by this regulation and should test independently.