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2006 Consumer Confidence Report & Annual Water Supply Statement
Water sources and treatment
OCWA treats and delivers water from Otisco Lake; the
easternmost and smallest finger lake. In 2006,
approximately 16.76 million gallons per day or 44% of
OCWA's water came from Otisco Lake. The customers
receiving water originating from Otisco Lake are
mostly located in the southern and western half of
Onondaga County.
OCWA buys water wholesale from the Metropolitan Water
Board at a number of different supply connections. MWB
treats water originating from Lake Ontario near the
City of Oswego. In 2006, approximately 21.26 million
gallons per day or 55% of OCWA's water came from Lake
Ontario. The customers receiving water originating
from Lake Ontario are mostly located in the northern
and eastern half of Onondaga County. OCWA customers in
Madison, Oneida, and Oswego counties receive all their
water from Lake Ontario.
The City of Syracuse Water Department has the
responsibility of treating and delivering water
originating from Skaneateles Lake. In 2006,
approximately 0.49 million gallons per day or 1% of
OCWA`s water came from Skaneateles Lake water
purchased from the City of Syracuse Water Department
through various supply connections. OCWA uses this
water to supplement areas close to the city boundary
when needed. OCWA customers living in Nedrow,
Southwood, and the area west of the Village of
Camillus get water from Skaneateles Lake exclusively.
The first step in water treatment is to protect the
source. OCWA and the City of Syracuse have been
conducting ongoing watershed inspection, monitoring,
and educational programs for a number of years. These
programs are in conjunction with the State and
Onondaga County Departments of Health. OCWA, MWB, and
the City of Syracuse all monitor lake conditions on
regular intervals prior to treatment.
The New York State Department of Health has recently
completed a Source Water Assessment Program in order
to better recognize potential sources of contaminants
in every water source used throughout the State.
Click here for this assessment.
OCWA has two intake pipes located in Otisco Lake. The
water entering these pipes is immediately chlorinated
to provide disinfection and to discourage the growth
of zebra mussels. The water then travels, by gravity,
approximately 5 miles to OCWA's water treatment plant
located in Marcellus, NY:
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Water first enters the rapid
mix tank where a coagulant (polyaluminum chloride) and
a taste and odor control chemical (powdered activated
carbon) is added.
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After 30 seconds of mixing, the
water enters the contact basins where the calm
conditions allow the coagulant to make the small
particles adhere together forming larger particles.
Some of these particles settle and are cleaned out
later. The contact time in these basins also allows
the powdered activated carbon (used about 4 months of
the year) to adsorb organic taste- and odor-causing
chemicals.
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After about 1 hour of contact time, the
water enters the filters. Particles are removed as the
water passes through one of four multimedia filters.
These filters consist of granular activated carbon,
silica-sand, high-density sand, and three layers of
gravel. The filters are washed periodically, and the
water used to do this is collected in lagoons and
allowed to settle. It is then recycled back to the
start of the treatment plant to be treated again.
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After filtration, the water is again disinfected with
chlorine, and fluoride is added. The water is stored in
large tanks located at the treatment plant to provide
adequate contact time for the chlorine to work. Once
the water leaves the tanks, orthophosphate is added to
provide a coating for the pipes in the distribution
system and in your home to prevent the leaching of lead and copper from your
pipes and into your water.
The Metropolitan Water Board takes water from an
intake tunnel in Lake Ontario that it shares with
the City of Oswego. The water entering MWB's raw water
pumping station has carbon dioxide added for pH
control and potassium permanganate to discourage the
growth of zebra mussels. The water then travels
approximately 2 miles to MWB's treatment plant located
just south of the City of Oswego:
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Water enters the
rapid mix area where chlorine and a coagulant
(polyaluminum chloride) are added.
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After it is mixed, the water enters the accelerators where the slow
mixing allows smaller particles to form a larger mass.
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After about 1 hour of contact time, the water flows
into the filters where particles are removed by six
dual media filters. These filters consist of granular
activated carbon (for taste and odor control), sand
and gravel.
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After filtration, fluoride (for teeth),
sodium hypochlorite (a disinfectant), and sodium
hydroxide (for corrosion control) are added to the
water.
The City of Syracuse does not filter the water that
enters their intakes located in Skaneateles Lake. The
city has been granted a waiver to provide its
customers with unfiltered water subject to strict
conditions set by the New York State Department of
Health. These conditions include water quality
monitoring, backup disinfection, and watershed
protection.
The City of Syracuse Water Plant is
located in the Village of Skaneateles:
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The City provides disinfection by the addition of chlorine, and
fluoridation.
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Water then flows by gravity into the
City's storage reservoirs.
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Orthophosphate is added to
the water (for lead and copper control) as it leaves
these reservoirs and it is disinfected again by the
addition of sodium hypochlorite.
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and
bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds,
reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over
the surface of the land or through the ground, it
dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some
cases, radioactive material, and can pick up
substances resulting from the presence of animals or
from human activities. Contaminants that may be
present in source water include microbial
contaminants, inorganic contaminants, pesticides and
herbicides, organic chemical contaminants, and
radioactive contaminants.
More information:  or 315-455-7061
After hours & weekend emergency answering service 315-475-7601
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