What was found in Syracuse's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 689 µg/L 6.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2910 µg/L — OCWA SKYRIDGE COMMUNITY WD · 50 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 689 µg/L 6.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2800 µg/L — OCWA SKYRIDGE COMMUNITY WD · 50 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 27.5 µg/L 2.8% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2600 µg/L — OCWA SKYRIDGE COMMUNITY WD · 50 people · 2018 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 840 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 854 µg/L — SYRACUSE CITY · 192,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 298.03 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 39 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 280.15 µg/L — OCWA SKYRIDGE COMMUNITY WD · 50 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 72.02 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 46 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 39.64 µg/L 66% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 23 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 19.9 µg/L — SYRACUSE CITY · 192,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 14.075 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 5.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.92 µg/L — SYRACUSE CITY · 192,000 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 9.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 6.1 µg/L 3.1% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: SYRACUSE CITY · 192,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.1 µg/L 3.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.895 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.8 µg/L — SYRACUSE CITY · 192,000 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.882 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 1.8675 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 1.685 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.6 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.574 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.3664 pCi/L 27% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1.08 pCi/L 7.2% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.4283 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0070 mg/L 47% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0120 mg/L — SYRACUSE CITY · 192,000 people · 2025 | 3/3 | LCR |
| Pfba | 0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCWA · 350,000 people · 2023 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Syracuse
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| OCWA | 350,000 |
| SYRACUSE CITY | 192,000 |
| OCWA SKYRIDGE COMMUNITY WD | 50 |
Frequently asked questions about Syracuse tap water
Is Syracuse tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Syracuse. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Syracuse?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Syracuse, New York to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Syracuse's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Syracuse include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrite, Fluoride, Chlorite. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.