Syracuse Sun

The City of Syracuse has released water sampling results for the latter half of 2024, indicating that the city's drinking water complies with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead standards. These results were submitted to state and county regulators earlier in the week and are corroborated by resident attestations confirming adherence to sampling protocols.

As per EPA public drinking water requirements, samples were collected from 131 homes with lead service lines between August and October 2024. An independent testing laboratory analyzed these samples, revealing a 90th percentile result of 12 parts per billion, which is below the EPA's lead action level of 15 parts per billion. Only five properties exceeded this guidance.

Syracuse sources its water from Skaneateles Lake, where it is initially free of lead. However, lead can be present in pipes connecting older homes to the system or within home plumbing fixtures. To mitigate this, the Syracuse Water Department adds orthophosphate to the water—a substance approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—which creates a protective coating inside lead pipes.

Nationwide public water systems must test tap water in locations likely to have lead-containing plumbing. The latest Syracuse results demonstrate that their corrosion control program is effective, as mandated by current EPA requirements that necessitate biannual sampling.

Earlier in 2024, initial tests at homes with lead service lines found elevated levels at 27 out of 104 properties due to improper sampling protocols by employees. This has led to two Water Department employees being placed on administrative leave pending investigation.

In response, Syracuse plans an accelerated replacement of more than 3,000 lead service lines next year—surpassing EPA guidelines. The focus will be on replacing private services where only public infrastructure was previously changed under past regulations. The city will prioritize areas with older homes prone to having lead infrastructure using an Equity Score model based on factors like income and race.

A comprehensive citywide inventory released in October 2024 catalogues materials used for service lines and identifies necessary replacements. Residents can check their address online at syr.gov/lead-free-Syracuse for details about their connections.

Additionally, while finalizing data through year-end, Syracuse offers free water filters for households with children under six years old or pregnant women through collaborations with local health departments and educational institutions.

To minimize exposure risks further: run taps for at least 30 seconds after inactivity; use cold water for cooking; never boil away potential contaminants; ensure filters are certified for lead removal according to manufacturer guidelines; visit ongov.net/health/lead/ or call 315-435-3271 for more information.