Water Department Reports 1st Half 2025 Sampling Meet EPA Lead Standard
Published on July 10, 2025
The City of Syracuse Department of Water released first half 2025 water sampling results that show Syracuse drinking water meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for the second straight reporting period. The samples, collected by a third-party contractor and analyzed by an independent laboratory, were presented to New York State and Onondaga County health regulators Wednesday.
Under EPA public drinking water requirements, 121 samples were taken from homes with lead service lines in May and June of 2025. The 90th percentile results came in at 9 parts per billion (ppb), under the current EPA lead action level of 15 ppb. The findings are also below the EPA’s new more stringent requirement of 10 ppb to be implemented in 2027.
To conduct the first half of 2025 sampling, the City hired 120Water, an independent contractor for public water systems with specialized expertise in administering water sampling. 120Water mailed sampling kits with instructions to a database of participating properties. The locations were developed in close collaboration with state and county regulators.
Consistent with EPA guidance, residents of participating properties collected tap water from kitchen or bathroom sinks and returned the samples directly to the testing laboratory by mail. 120Water sent results to participants, and the testing laboratory reported all data to the City.
“We have consistently improved our water sampling methods during the past year. These new results reaffirm that people can have confidence in Syracuse water. When samples are collected properly, our drinking water meets the standards set by EPA,” said Robert Brandt, commissioner of water.
Syracuse’s water supply is sourced from Skaneateles Lake. The water leaving Skaneateles Lake and traveling through water mains is free of lead. However, lead is sometimes present in pipes connecting older homes to the water system or in fixtures and home plumbing. The Syracuse Water Department adds a safe substance called orthophosphate to the water. This substance is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safe consumption. It forms a protective coating inside lead pipes, reducing lead from leaching into the water.
Public water systems across the nation are required to test tap water from homes and buildings likely to have plumbing that contains lead. The EPA lead action level is a measure of the effectiveness of lead control treatment. The latest Syracuse test results show the corrosion control program is working. Under current EPA requirements, water sampling will be repeated every six months.