Lead Service Replacement Strategy

The City is moving forward with lead service line replacements on an accelerated basis that exceeds EPA guidelines. This year, at approximately 2,900 homes citywide, including areas with the highest concentrations of older homes, the city will replace the private lead services at homes where, prior to the new EPA requirements, only the public infrastructure was changed.

Future replacements will be prioritized based on the completion of the citywide inventory, with the goal of maintaining or accelerating the current replacement pace. A phased approach will be communicated to residents, providing timelines on when residents can expect their service to be replaced. To see where the City is currently replacing services, click the below map. 

Construction Dashboard

In October 2024, the Department released a citywide water service line inventory in accordance with EPA regulations.

The citywide inventory catalogues the materials used and informs the Department of necessary replacement areas. To search your address to find the type of service connected to your home click below.

Look up your service line

The City of Syracuse Department of Water testing demonstrated elevated lead levels in drinking water at some homes during routine sampling for the New York State Department of Health during the first half of 2024. Subsequent sampling conducted by an independent third-party firm determined that the results were below the EPA’s standard level of concern for action. The EPA uses the 90th percentile value to assess lead levels, if more than 10% of the 100 sampled homes exceed 15 parts per billion, action is required. Under EPA requirements, water sampling will be repeated every six months. Households can call the Water Department at 315-448-8354 to participate in future sampling. Below you can find sampling data from the most recent round of sampling and the years prior. 

The City and the Onondaga County Health Department distributed 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 were distributed to all eligible households with children in pre-k programs through first grade. Additional distributions are 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. 

To learn more click here.

The City of Syracuse Department of Water has developed new lead water public education materials to help residents understand the risks of lead exposure from pipes and steps they can take to protect their families. Developed in coordination with the EPA and NYSDOH, the resources are part of the City’s ongoing commitment to public health and safety.

To access this information click the link below. Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. *

EPA Educational Materials