We read 14 results from Syracuse City’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 4 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 192,000 people · Water system ID NY3304334 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper90th percentile of 120 homes tested, 0 over the action level · printed as 340 ug/L · Customer taps (120 sites) · 2025 report, page 23 | 0.34 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal1.1x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)single sample · sampled 2023 · Skaneateles Lake supply · 2025 report, page 24 | 0.93 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of 100 homes tested, 4 over the action level · Customer taps (100 sites) · 2025 report, page 23 | 12 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal60x the health goal |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 24 | 1.29 % positive | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumsingle sample · Skaneateles Lake supply · 2025 report, page 21 | 0.02 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chloridesingle sample · Skaneateles Lake supply · 2025 report, page 21 | 22.8 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chlorineaverage · range ND to 2.67 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 22 | 0.76 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 15 to 22.2 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 22 | 18.6 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 17.8 to 49.6 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 22 | 30.5 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideaverage · range ND to 1.04 · Skaneateles Lake supply · 2025 report, page 21 | 0.73 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)single sample · Skaneateles Lake supply · 2025 report, page 21 | 0.27 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Sulfatesingle sample · Skaneateles Lake supply · 2025 report, page 21 | 10.6 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Microcystins (algal toxin)single sample · Treated water (clear well) · 2025 report, page 19 | 0.35 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumsingle sample · Skaneateles Lake supply · 2025 report, page 21 | 11.4 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.
Lead
Found: Copper, Lead
What removes it: Reverse osmosis or Certified carbon block or RO.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity)
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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