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City of Syracuse Department of Water Ben Walsh City of Syracuse Department of Water Ben Walsh, Mayor Joseph Awald P.E., Commissioner of Water 2018 Newsletter Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2018 (Public Water Supply ID#3304334) 1 The City of Syracuse website: http://www.syrgov.net We are also on Twitter: Twitter@syracuse1848 You can also find us on Facebook: Fb.com/Syracuse1848 SYRACUSE WATER NEWSLETTER The Syracuse Water Newsletter is a publication of the City of Syracuse Department of Water. This publication contains valuable information about your water system and about the water that the Syracuse Water Department supplies. Information on the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program is also included. If you would like other information about the City of Syracuse or have a question about City services in general, feel free to phone City Line, 315-448-CITY (2489). You will also find useful information about the City of Syracuse on the worldwide web by logging onto http://www.syrgov.net Ben Walsh, Mayor City of Syracuse May 2018 - 2 - TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 4 Syracuse Water Supply & Water Use 4-5 Cost of Water 5 Water Treatment 5 Information on Fluoride Addition 6 Skaneateles Lake Filtration Waiver 6 NY State Source Water Assessment 6 Watershed Rules & Regulations 6-7 Lead in Your Drinking Water 7-8 Water Quality Monitoring 8-10 Glossary of Terms 17 Giardia and Cryptosporidium 18 Water Conservation 18-19 Opportunities for Public Participation 19 Flooding 20-24 Storm Water Management 24-25 For More Information or Questions 26 - 3 - INTRODUCTION The Annual Drinking Water Quality Report allows the Syracuse Water Department to provide customers and users of the City of Syracuse water system with useful information about the water system, the quality of the water and about important issues affecting your water supply. This report is prepared pursuant to regulations and guidelines of both the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH). The City of Syracuse Water Department (SWD) provides retail water service to the entire City of Syracuse. Through wholesale and other service agreements, the SWD also supplies water to portions of the towns of Dewitt, Onondaga, Geddes, Camillus, Salina, and the villages of Skaneateles, and Jordan and Elbridge. If you have any questions about the source of your water, check with the water purveyor that sends your water bill and ask for information concerning the source of water that you receive at your home or business. It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or the Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD) at 315-435-6600. Some people may be more vulnerable to disease-causing microorganisms or pathogens in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice from their health care providers. EPA/Center for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791). In general, the sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: ● Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife; ● Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming; ● Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses; ● Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems; and ● Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA and the NYSDOH prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. In this report we describe your water system and what the Syracuse Water Department is doing to meet federal and state water quality regulations and provide the best quality water we possibly can for you, our customers. If you have any comments about this report, or questions about your water system, please do not hesitate to contact the Syracuse Water Department at 315-448-8340. You may send e-mail to the City of Syracuse through the City’s web site, http://www.syrgov.net or mail us through the U.S. Postal Service at 101 North Beech Street, Syracuse New York 13210. SYRACUSE WATER SUPPLY AND WATER SYSTEM WATER USE For 125 years, the primary water supply for the City of Syracuse has been Skaneateles Lake, a “Finger Lake” located approximately 20 miles southwest of the City. Syracuse has utilized this lake for its water supply since 1894. Skaneateles Lake is approximately 15 miles long and one mile wide with a maximum depth of 300 feet. Skaneateles Lake has a relatively small watershed of 59 square miles and a water surface area of 13.6 square miles. In 2018, an - 4 - average of 39.08 million gallons per day (MGD) was released at the outlet of Skaneateles Lake to control lake level and maintain Skaneateles Creek flow at or above the minimum required flow. Skaneateles Lake has exceptionally high water quality. This makes it possible to utilize the lake’s water without filtration. Skaneateles Lake is one of the few large system surface water supplies in the country that is approved as an unfiltered water supply. The high quality of this water is due to: the shape and size characteristics of the lake and watershed, the fact that sewage discharges (including from sewage treatment plants) are not allowed into surface waters in the Skaneateles Lake watershed, the efforts of the City of Syracuse’s watershed protection program, and to the stewardship of residents and landowners of the watershed. In the 1970’s the Onondaga County agency, known as the Metropolitan Water Board (MWB), constructed a water line between Lake Ontario and Syracuse. As a result, the City is able to supplement its Skaneateles Lake water supply with Lake Ontario water when necessary. The City normally relies upon Lake Ontario water during times when drought conditions limit the available supply from Skaneateles, during emergencies, or during periods of high consumption. Since the MWB system is connected to the City’s system on the north side of the City, this area may receive water from Lake Ontario from time to time. The Syracuse water system is made up of over 500 miles of pipelines to deliver water from Skaneateles Lake to the City and to distribute the water throughout the City. The water supply system consists of water storage in Woodland and Westcott Reservoirs on the west side of the City. Water is also stored in two standpipes and in the three tanks that comprise Morningside Reservoir. Water Use During 2018, the total amount of water entering the City of Syracuse water system was 13,063.085 million gallons (35.789 MGD). 13,027.585 million gallons (35.692 MGD) of water was withdrawn from Skaneateles Lake and 35.500 million gallons (0.097 MGD) came from Lake Ontario (Metropolitan Water Board). Water customers were billed for 5,680.577 million gallons (15.560 MGD) leaving 7,382.508 million gallons (20.226 MGD) for firefighting purposes, street sweeping, construction, water main flushing, water discharge, water main repairs, and transmission/distribution system leaks. COST OF WATER The City of Syracuse continues to have some of the lowest water rates in New York State. Under current water rates the basic price of water is $2.97 per 100 cubic feet. Non-City customers pay a higher rate of $4.46 per 100 cubic feet. Customers using less than 1,300 cubic feet per quarter will be billed a minimum charge of $38.61 per quarter per unit for water. The sewer rate is $0.94 per 100 cubic feet for sewer use. Sewer bills are based upon actual consumption. The water rate schedule is based on a declining block system. All water bills are based on consumption, so it is important that your water meter be read. In the past, meter readers had to enter the property for a read, currently ~91% of the city’s water meters have been upgraded to the radio read system. It is mandatory to be converted to this system. If you have not been upgraded please contact us for an appointment 315-448-8357. *Please note the meter is the property of the City of Syracuse, and may only be removed by meter room personnel* WATER TREATMENT Skaneateles Lake water is a very high-quality water source requiring minimal treatment.
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