We read 23 results from Ocwa’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 6 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 350,000 people · Water system ID NY3304336 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloriteaverage · range ND to 0.23 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 18 | 0.16 ppm | 0.05 ppm | 1 ppm | Above the health goal3.1x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)as reported · sampled 2017 · Otisco Lake, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 22 | 0.62 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 16 | 6.8 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal34x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)average · range ND to 2.5 · Lake Ontario · 2025 report, page 23 | 1.65 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 10 ppt (New York) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal236x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)as reported · Lake Ontario · 2025 report, page 22 | 2.14 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 18 | 0.31 % positive | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Aluminumas reported · Lake Ontario, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 19 | 0.11 ppm | — | 0.2 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Bariumas reported · Otisco Lake, highest of 3 sources · 2025 report, page 19 | 0.03 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorideas reported · Otisco Lake, highest of 3 sources · 2025 report, page 19 | 46.1 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chlorineaverage · range ND to 2.18 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 18 | 0.53 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 16 | 0.18 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 5.4 to 26.9 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 18 | 17.3 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 17.7 to 64.7 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 18 | 40.2 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideaverage · range 0.35 to 1.04 · Skaneateles Lake, highest of 3 sources · 2025 report, page 20 | 0.73 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)as reported · Skaneateles Lake, highest of 3 sources · 2025 report, page 21 | 0.27 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)average · range ND to 0.8 · Lake Ontario · 2025 report, page 23 | 0.07 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| PFOS (a PFAS)average · range ND to 2.2 · Lake Ontario · 2025 report, page 23 | 0.5 ppt | 1 ppt | 10 ppt (New York) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Below the health goal |
| Sulfateas reported · Lake Ontario, highest of 3 sources · 2025 report, page 21 | 22.6 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)average · range 0.02 to 0.3 · Lake Ontario plant, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 17 | 0.05 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| Uraniumas reported · Lake Ontario · 2025 report, page 22 | 0.35 ppb | 0.6 ppb | 30 ppb | Below the health goal |
| PFBA (a PFAS)as reported · Lake Ontario · 2025 report, page 23 | 2.1 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)average · range ND to 0.57 · Lake Ontario · 2025 report, page 23 | 0.05 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumas reported · Otisco Lake, highest of 3 sources · 2025 report, page 21 | 27.8 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 1 number we weren’t sure about is held back until a person checks.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Bacteria and viruses
Found: Total coliform bacteria
What removes it: UV purification (and tell your utility).
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