Syracuse City
EPA ID: NY3304334 · 192,000 people served · 30 ZIP codes
Federal data shows 4 unresolved violations at Syracuse City — roughly 192,000 residents in the service area.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 30 (2021) to 60 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Syracuse City Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade D
Service Area Demographics
The Syracuse City serves a community with a median household income of $67,307 and an estimated 254,067 residents across its service area. Approximately 86% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Syracuse City's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Onondaga County, New York rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Syracuse City compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
E. coli at 5 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.
Barium at 9 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 2 mg/L.
Contaminant 1052 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 2049 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 17 detections recorded.
Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in New York
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Syracuse City (EPA ID: NY3304334) is a community water system in New York that serves approximately 192,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 30 ZIP codes across 3 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: D (40/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0800 | Health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | E. coli | Health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Contaminant 2049 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Lead | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Barium | Health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Barium | Health-based | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | E. coli | Health-based | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Barium | Health-based | Resolved |
| March 1, 2023 | E. coli | Health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Barium | Health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 1052 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | Inorganic | 9 | Yes |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 5 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 1052 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2049 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 0800 | Other Violation | 1 | Yes |
Health Risk Details
E. coli (EPA limit: Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action))
Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children At-risk groups: children under 5, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women.
Removal methods: UV disinfection (99.99%), chlorination, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13202 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 13203 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 13207 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 13210 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 13224 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 13244 | 0.007 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 16 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 14 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 13057 — East Syracuse
- 13078 — Jamesville
- 13201 — Syracuse
- 13202 — Syracuse
- 13203 — Syracuse
- 13204 — Syracuse
- 13205 — Syracuse
- 13206 — Syracuse
- 13207 — Syracuse
- 13208 — Syracuse
- 13209 — Syracuse
- 13210 — Syracuse
- 13211 — Syracuse
- 13212 — Syracuse
- 13214 — Syracuse
- 13215 — Syracuse
- 13217 — Syracuse
- 13218 — Syracuse
- 13219 — Syracuse
- 13220 — Syracuse
- 13221 — Syracuse
- 13224 — Syracuse
- 13225 — Syracuse
- 13235 — Syracuse
- 13244 — Syracuse
- 13250 — Syracuse
- 13251 — Syracuse
- 13252 — Syracuse
- 13261 — Syracuse
- 13290 — Syracuse
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Syracuse City (NY3304334) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Syracuse City water safe to drink?
Syracuse City has recorded 13 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Syracuse City serve?
Syracuse City serves approximately 192,000 people across 30 ZIP codes in New York.
Where does Syracuse City get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from City of Syracuse Department of Water Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: City of Syracuse Department of Water Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
The NYSDOH evaluated the City of Syracuse water supply’s susceptibility to contamination. The Skaneateles Lake source has a moderate susceptibility to contamination, with a high potential for protozoan contamination due to pasture in the assessment area. The Lake Ontario source has a moderate susceptibility to contamination, with elevated potential for pesticides and non-sanitary waste contamination.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Watershed exposure sources reported
Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Syracuse Department of Water Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
PFAS Substances Detected in This System
This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.
In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →
Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by City of Syracuse Department of Water.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.
The system is required by federal law to reduce lead in drinking water by replacing 7% of existing lead water services annually until two consecutive 6-month water quality sampling events resulted in the 90th percentile below the action level of 15 ppb. The Syracuse Water Department treats water with orthophosphate to minimize lead leaching and has a residential lead service replacement program for customers.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
City of Syracuse Department of Water
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
Hard water detected in City of Syracuse Department of Water
Your utility reported water hardness of 127 ppm CaCO₃ (7.4 grains per gallon) in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report. This is in the moderately hard range and may cause scale buildup, reduced appliance lifespan, and dry skin or hair.
There are three common approaches to treating hard water: salt-based ion-exchange softeners (most effective, require salt refills), salt-free conditioners (lower maintenance, scale prevention only), and reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink (cooking and drinking water only). Aquasana, EcoWater, Pelican, and SpringWell are among the major US brands.
Paid Partner. ZipCheckup earns commission on Aquasana purchases. We do not test water or verify product effectiveness for specific hardness levels — manufacturer claims are theirs alone. Consult a certified water-quality professional for personalized advice.
Hardness data parsed from this utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report. Severity bands per USGS hard water classification.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Federal compliance violations on record
These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).
-
treatment technique · turbidity2024-01-13
Treatment technique violation occurred when turbidity levels exceeded maximum allowable standard of 5 NTU at Skaneateles Lake intake due to high winds.
-
MCL · turbidity2024-01-09/2024-01-10
MCL violation occurred when two consecutive daily entry point turbidity analyses exceeded 5 NTU at Skaneateles Lake intake.
-
treatment technique · Cryptosporidium (UV treatment)2024-06-06
Treatment technique violation occurred when more than 5% of water entering the distribution system was not fully treated by UV disinfection due to lamp failures.
Violations record from City of Syracuse Department of Water Consumer Confidence Report.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- Turbidity event January 9-15, 2024 with high winds causing exceedances at Intake #1 and closure of Intake #2.
- UV reactor lamp failures June 6, 2024 resulted in off-spec water and treatment technique violation for Cryptosporidium.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
- #9 / 100 Highest Exposure Burden (U.S.)
- #11 / 50 Most Disadvantaged Populations Served (New York)
- #2 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (New York)
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Syracuse City (EPA ID: NY3304334) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.