Syracuse, NY: 10 Health Violations - Home Safety 59/100
28 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Syracuse: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (10 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Syracuse lands in the middle of the grade scale in NY; EPA records can differ from one service area to the next.
How Syracuse Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Syracuse, NY
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Syracuse score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Syracuse Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 27 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0114 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $837 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.87.
Who Supplies Your Water in Syracuse
Service in Syracuse, NY can differ by address: 5 water systems are tied to the area in federal records, and the 3 largest are listed with their violation records.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 28 ZIP codes in Syracuse, New York (population ~229,027), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 581,000 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 16 of 28 ZIP codes.
15 of 16 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (94%) have recorded EPA violations. 10 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Syracuse: C (59/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Syracuse water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0114 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 16 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
28 of 28 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 105 | 14 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 45 | 14 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 30 | 14 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 16 | 5 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 16 | 5 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13206 | C | 18 | 10 | Syracuse City |
| 13214 | C | 18 | 10 | Dewitt Wds - South |
| 13224 | — | 18 | 10 | Syracuse City |
| 13209 | C | 15 | 10 | Ocwa |
| 13202 | C | 12 | 10 | Syracuse City |
| 13203 | C | 12 | 10 | Syracuse City |
| 13204 | C | 12 | 10 | Syracuse City |
| 13205 | C | 12 | 10 | Syracuse City |
| 13207 | C | 12 | 10 | Syracuse City |
| 13208 | C | 12 | 10 | Syracuse City |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13212 | C | Ocwa | 350,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Syracuse
- 13201
- 13202 [C] - 12 violations ⚠
- 13203 [C] - 12 violations ⚠
- 13204 [C] - 12 violations ⚠
- 13205 [C] - 12 violations ⚠
- 13206 [C] - 18 violations ⚠
- 13207 [C] - 12 violations ⚠
- 13208 [C] - 12 violations ⚠
- 13209 [C] - 15 violations ⚠
- 13210 [C] - 12 violations ⚠
- 13211 [C] - 6 violations
- 13212 [C]
- 13214 [C] - 18 violations ⚠
- 13215 [C] - 12 violations ⚠
- 13217
- 13218
- 13219 [C] - 12 violations ⚠
- 13220
- 13221
- 13224 - 18 violations ⚠
- 13225
- 13235
- 13244 - 12 violations ⚠
- 13250
- 13251
- 13252
- 13261
- 13290
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Syracuse
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Syracuse Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Syracuse Homeowners
This section sets two area figures side by side for Syracuse: the median home value and an estimated remediation cost. Here the estimate equals no more than 1% of that value, which places the city in the low tier; it is an area estimate, and the cost for any one property can be higher or lower.
Estimated remediation costs in Syracuse can be compared with local home values. The $458–$1,737 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 60% below the New York average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Syracuse
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Syracuse
Historical NFIP data for Syracuse contains 222 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $12,949. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 60% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $837 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Syracuse
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
- Install a certified water filter. For Surface Water Treatment Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Syracuse: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Syracuse, NY