Lead Free Syracuse

Get the facts about lead in drinking water and learn what you can do to protect your family from lead!

Homes built before 1986 may have lead in plumbing like water service lines, pipes, solder, and plumbing fixtures. Lead may enter the water as it passes through the lead pipes or when it sits overnight in a home’s plumbing system. Plumbing materials, including pipes, new brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free,” may contribute to lead in drinking water. The law currently allows pipes, fittings, and fixtures with up to 0.25 percent weighted average of lead to be identified as “lead-free.” Skaneateles Lake is the source water for the City of Syracuse and does not contain lead. The water mains that deliver water to residents in the City of Syracuse do not contain lead.

Click here to watch a video explaining lead service lines

Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Drinking water is only one possible source of lead exposure. In our area, the most common way children are exposed to lead is from lead-based paint. Chipping or peeling lead-based paint creates lead dust. Children can pick up lead dust when they crawl on the floor or put their hands and toys in their mouth. It’s important to wash your child’s toys and hands often, to remove lead dust. Children can also be exposed to lead through contaminated soil or from consumer products such as imported toys, pottery/ceramics, pewter, food, spices, or cosmetics. Adults with certain jobs (construction, house painting, plumbing, auto repair, or jewelry repair) or hobbies (fishing, making or shooting firearms, or making stained glass or pottery) can bring lead into the home on work clothing and shoes.

Exposure to lead from any source can cause serious health effects, especially for young children and pregnant women. Exposure to lead can damage a child’s brain and nervous system. This can cause learning problems, delayed growth, and problems with hearing or speech. Adults exposed to lead can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Pregnant individuals exposed to lead may experience preterm birth or other pregnancy complications. Lead may pass to the fetus during the pregnancy.

Your child’s family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide information about the health effects of lead. The Onondaga County Health Department can also provide information about how you can have your child’s blood tested for lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) agree there is no safe level of lead. Public health action may be needed when the level of lead in a child’s blood is considered elevated. If an elevated result is reported, the Onondaga County Health Department will contact the parent/guardian directly. For more information, call (315) 435-3271, email LeadFreeKids@ongov.net, visit ongov.net/health/lead, or use this link to find out if your child needs a lead test: Click Here to Find Out More.

The City and the Onondaga County Health Department is distributing free water filters to households with children under six, pregnant women, and other at-risk individuals. With the assistance of the Syracuse City School District, filters will be distributed to all eligible households with children in pre-k programs through first grade. Additional distributions will be made through the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, child daycares, charter schools and other caregivers who serve young children and infants. Eligible households can request a filter by calling the Water Department at 315-448-8354.

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If you are concerned about the lead levels at your location, there are several things you can do separately or in combination:

• Run your water to flush out lead. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes for several minutes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, and the length of the lead service line. Please contact the utility for further recommendations on flushing times.
• Use cold water. Do not use hot water from the tap for cooking, drinking or making baby formula. Lead dissolves more easily into hot water.
• Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water does not reduce lead.
• Use a water filter properly. Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, it should be certified to remove lead. For information about identifying filters certified to reduce lead, visit the EPA’s website: EPA Website: Identifying Your Filter.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions provided with the filter to learn how to properly install, maintain, and use your cartridge and when to replace it. For more information on facts and advice on home water filtration systems, visit EPA’s website at epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/home-drinking-water-filtration-fact-sheet.
• Clean your aerator. Regularly remove and clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator) if it is equipped with an aerator. Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
• Test your water for lead. The City of Syracuse Water Department conducts water sampling at residential properties every six months. If you are interested in volunteering for this testing, please call the City at (315) 448-8360. Alternatively, customers may arrange for their water to be tested by calling Certified Environmental Services at 315-478-2374, Microbac New York – Cortland at 607-753-3403 or Panek Laboratory LLC at 315-253-4433.

The City of Syracuse Water Department currently treats the water with orthophosphate, a food-grade additive deemed safe for consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Orthophosphate is also recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an effective additive in water to reduce lead levels by creating a coating inside of lead service lines, creating a barrier between the lead pipes and the water. The City of Syracuse continues to perform lead and water quality monitoring of our water system supply.

The City of Syracuse Water Department conducts water sampling at residential properties every six months. If you are interested in volunteering for this testing, please call the City at (315) 448-8360. Alternatively, customers may arrange for their water to be tested by calling Certified Environmental Services at 315-478-2374, Microbac New York – Cortland at 607-753-3403 or Panek Laboratory LLC at 315-253-4433. 

• For information about what your service line material is, lead service line replacement, or to have your water tested, contact the City of Syracuse Water Department at (315) 448-8354 or email waterlead@syr.gov.
• To obtain a copy of the City of Syracuse or other municipal water quality report, contact the Onondaga County Department of Health Water Supply Division at (315) 435-6600, email PHEng@ongov.net, or visit: www.ongov.net/health/env/quality.html.
• For information on the health impact of lead in water, contact the Onondaga County Health Department at (315) 435-3271 or email LeadFreeKids@ongov.net.