Tap
- Price:
- $0
- Waste:
- No waste
- Safety:
- Safe
- Taste:
- Slight chlorine on public supply.
FROM THE TAP
Is the water safe here?
A hamlet-by-hamlet answer.
Sag Harbor
Yes — tap water in Sag Harbor is safe to drink. SCWA meets all EPA and NYSDOH standards.
Bottled
- Price:
- $1–4 / bottle
- Waste:
- Plastic waste
- Safety:
- Only necessary in red hamlets
Filtered
- Price:
- $30–450 up front
- NSF-ANSI 53:
- Berkey · ZeroWater · AquaTru · carbon-block
- Recommended:
- Optional NSF-ANSI 53 carbon-block pitcher (Brita Elite, ZeroWater) for taste.
Ace Hardware East Hampton · Home Depot Riverhead · Amazon
Sources: SCWA Annual Water Quality Report · EPA Drinking Water · NYSDOH Drinking Water · SCWA · PFAS · 1,4-dioxane · Verified 2026-04-08
Check your rental address or hamlet
East End water districts
What the colors mean
Safe public water Public, contaminants flagged Private well Not yet mapped
Filters7 districts
🟡 Public water — contaminants of concern
Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA)
SCWA is the largest groundwater supplier in the US. Meets all EPA standards. Historic PFAS and 1,4-dioxane detections in Westhampton / Gabreski area wells (military firefighting foam) have been addressed with GAC + AOP advanced treatment. Carbon-block filter recommended for sensitive groups.
- Towns served:
- Southampton, Water Mill, Bridgehampton, Sagaponack, Wainscott, East Hampton, Amagansett, Montauk, Springs, Noyac, North Sea, Tuckahoe, Hampton Bays, Quogue, East Quogue, Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, Remsenburg, Speonk, Eastport
- ZIP codes:
- 11932, 11937, 11930, 11963, 11968, 11976, 11962, 11975, 11946, 11959, 11942, 11977, 11978, 11960, 11972
- Contact:
- 631-698-9500
🟡 Public water — contaminants of concern
Riverhead Water District
Town-operated district. Historic 1,4-dioxane detections in several wells have been addressed with advanced oxidation treatment. Meets NY State strict 1 ppb dioxane standard. Carbon-block filter recommended for sensitive groups.
- Towns served:
- Riverhead, Aquebogue, Jamesport, Wading River, Calverton, Baiting Hollow
- ZIP codes:
- 11901, 11931, 11947, 11792, 11933
- Contact:
- 631-727-3205
🔴 Private well — homeowner responsible
North Fork Private Wells (Cutchogue, Mattituck, Orient, Southold)
Large portions of the North Fork rely on private wells. Nitrate contamination from historic agricultural runoff is a documented concern. Homeowners must test annually; renters should ask hosts for the most recent report.
- Towns served:
- Cutchogue, Mattituck, Southold, Orient, New Suffolk, Peconic, Laurel
- ZIP codes:
- 11935, 11952, 11971, 11957, 11956, 11958, 11948
- Contact:
- 631-852-5700
🔴 Private well — homeowner responsible
Shelter Island (Private Wells)
Shelter Island has no public water district. Virtually all homes are on private wells, which the homeowner is responsible for testing annually via Suffolk County Department of Health Services certified labs. Ask your host for the most recent water test report.
- Towns served:
- Shelter Island, Shelter Island Heights
- ZIP codes:
- 11964, 11965
- Contact:
- 631-852-5700
🟢 Public water — no current advisories
Village of Greenport Water Department
Village-owned municipal water system sourced from local wells. Meets EPA standards per latest CCR. Historic nitrate concerns in North Fork agricultural areas are treated.
- Towns served:
- Greenport Village, portions of East Marion
- ZIP codes:
- 11944
- Contact:
- 631-477-0248
🟢 Public water — no current advisories
Hampton Bays Water District
Small municipal district overlapping SCWA service area in parts of Hampton Bays. Meets EPA standards per latest CCR.
- Towns served:
- Hampton Bays (portions)
- ZIP codes:
- 11946
- Contact:
- 631-728-0392
🟢 Public water — no current advisories
Village of Sag Harbor Municipal Water
Village of Sag Harbor is served by SCWA under municipal agreement in most areas. Meets EPA standards.
- Towns served:
- Sag Harbor Village
- ZIP codes:
- 11963
- Contact:
- 631-725-0222
What's in the water?
- PFAS ("forever chemicals")
- Industrial compounds used in firefighting foam. Flagged on the East End around Westhampton / Gabreski Airport and Shinnecock. Removed by carbon-block and reverse-osmosis filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58.
- 1,4-dioxane
- Industrial solvent flagged in some Suffolk wells. New York State sets a strict 1 ppb limit. SCWA and Riverhead have installed advanced oxidation treatment in affected areas.
- Nitrates
- Agricultural runoff, mainly affecting North Fork private wells near farms. Dangerous for infants — use bottled or filtered water for formula.
- Lead
- Rare in East End service lines, but possible in older home plumbing. Flush the tap for 30 seconds after long non-use.
What to do
🏨 Renting an Airbnb or hotel
Ask the host for the most recent water test (private well) or the SCWA report (public). Bottled water is a fine default if unsure.
🏡 Homeowner with a well
Test annually via a Suffolk DHS-certified lab. Install a whole-house carbon filter if PFAS is a regional concern, and replace filters per spec.
👶 Pregnant or infants
Use a certified PFAS-removing filter or bottled water for drinking and formula, regardless of source.
🐕 Dogs
Generally fine on the same water you'd drink. If you wouldn't drink it, don't give it to your dog.
🏖️ Public beaches & parks
Fountains where present are on SCWA municipal water and are generally safe. (Beach swimming water is a separate question — see the beaches page.)
Filter standards to look for
- NSF/ANSI 53 — certified for lead and many VOCs including some PFAS.
- NSF/ANSI 58 — reverse-osmosis, certified for dissolved solids including PFAS and 1,4-dioxane.
- NSF/ANSI 401 — emerging contaminants including pharmaceuticals.
Source: NSF.org. Hamptons Verified does not recommend specific brands.
Building community? Visit /comunidad.
Emergencies: dial 911. This page is for planning, not medical advice.