East Side Springs

Consumer Confidence Report For
Customers of East Side Spring
Public Water System ID# NY 3304340

The Onondaga County Water Authority (by contract) is responsible for maintaining the water system for customers receiving water originating from East Side spring. East Side spring is located in Tully, NY on the east side of Route 11A approximately one-half mile south of the intersection of Solvay Road. A Source Water Assessment for East Side spring has recently been completed by the New York State Department of Health. It can be found at the end of this report.

East Side spring is a ground water source. Water fills the covered springhouse and flows by gravity into a chlorination building located off Route 11A approximately one-fourth mile north of the spring. The water then continues on feeding approximately 13,785 gallons a day to twelve customers. These customers are located on Route 11A from a point starting just north of the spring and ending about 2 miles away. There are two customers between the spring and the chlorination building that receive unchlorinated water that is not suitable for drinking. OCWA customers in this area are intermingled with houses having their own wells.

The only treatment this water receives is disinfection by the addition of chlorine. The chlorine level in the system is checked daily by a resident, and the chlorination building is visited by an OCWA employee at least every other day. Testing for bacteria is performed weekly, and additional monitoring for chemical contaminants is done on a schedule which meets or exceeds requirements set by the New York State Sanitary Code. Below is a list of contaminants found in your water in 2006. In cases where a contaminant is tested for less than once per year, the most recent results (prior to 2006) are included. Please refer to the main part of OCWA's Consumer Confidence Report for more information and for a listing of abbreviations used. Entry point samples are taken at the effluent of the chlorination building. Distribution system samples are taken at customers taps.

Table of detected contaminants sampled in the distribution system

Likely source of contamination: Added to water to kill harmful bacteria and to prevent the regrowth of bacteria

Chlorine, free, no residual
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Weekly in 2006	0.96 (0.70-1.24)	mg/L	NA	4 (MRDL)

Likely source of contamination: Copper and lead: corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits. Copper only: leaching from wood preservatives.

Copper
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Sep 05	0.17 (.069-.20)	mg/L	1.3	AL = 1.3

Lead
No	Sep 05	2.4 (ND-3.3)	µg/L	0	AL = 15

OCWA must test five houses in this district every 3 years for lead & copper. The highest and second highest concentrations of lead/copper of these five home are then averaged together. This result must be at or below the Action Levels, or corrosion control treatment techniques must be started. In 2005 none of the houses tested were above the Action Level for lead or copper. OCWA will test for lead and copper again in 2008.

Table of detected contaminants sampled at the entry point

Likely source of contamination: Discharge of drilling wastes, discharge from metal refineries, erosion of natural deposits

Barium
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Jun 06	0.21	mg/L	2	2

Likely source of contamination: Naturally occurring

Calcium
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Jul 05	79	mg/L	NA	NA

Likely source of contamination: Naturally occurring, road salts

Chloride
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Jun 06	39	mg/L	NA	250

Likely source of contamination: Added to water to kill harmful bacteria and to prevent the regrowth of bacteria.

Chlorine (free, residual)
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Every other day in 2006	1.00 (0.75-1.30)	mg/L	NA	4 (MRDL)

Likely source of contamination: Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives.

Copper
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Jun 06	0.0023	mg/L	1.3	AL = 1.3

Likely source of contamination: Naturally occurring

Magnesium
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Jul 05	30	mg/L	NA	NA

Likely source of contamination: Erosion of natural deposits.

Nickel
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Jun 06	3.3	µg/L	NA	NA

Likely source of contamination: Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits.

Nitrate
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Jun 06	5.5	mg/L	10	10

Health effects of nitrate: Although nitrate was detected below the MCL, it was detected at 5.5 mg/L, which is greater than one-half of the MCL. Therefore, we are required to present information. Nitrate in drinking water above 10 mg/L is a health risk for infants under 6 months. High nitrate levels can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider.

Likely source of contamination: Odor as measured by this procedure has no health effects, although several contaminants exert odors when they are present at levels near their MCLs. Odor is an important quality factor affecting the drinkability of water.

Odor
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Jun 06	1	TON	NA	3

Likely source of contamination: Naturally occurring, road salts, water softeners, animal wastes

Sodium
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Jun 06	17	mg/L	NA	See note

Health effects of sodium: Sodium has no MCL, but water containing more than 20 mg/L of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on severely restricted sodium diets. Water containing more than 270 mg/L of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on moderately restricted diets.

Likely source of contamination: Naturally occurring

Sulfate
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Jun 06	24	mg/L	NA	250

Likely source of contamination: Naturally occurring, mining waste

Zinc
Violation yes/no	Sampling date(s)	Average level found (range)	Units	MCLG	Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No	Jun 06	0.014	mg/L	NA	5

About radon

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soil and outdoor air that may also be found in drinking water and indoor air. Some people exposed to elevated radon levels over many years in drinking water may have an increased risk of getting cancer. The main risk is lung cancer from radon entering indoor air from soil under homes. For additional information call your state radon program (800-458-1158) or call EPA’s Radon Hotline (800-SOS-RADON).

In anticipation of the EPA adopting regulations for radon in ground water systems OCWA tested for it three times in 2006. In 2006, the effluent of the Chlorination Building was sampled in April, August, and December. The range of radon detected was 228 to 290 pCi/L. In 2005 the average amount of Radon detected was 266 pCi/L.

SWAP summary for East Side Spring

The NYS DOH has evaluated the East Side Spring's susceptibility to contamination under the Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP), and their findings are summarized in the paragraph below. It is important to stress that these assessments were created using available information and only estimate the potential for source water contamination. Elevated susceptibility ratings do not mean that source water contamination has or will occur for East Side Spring. The East Side Spring water supply provides treatment and regular monitoring to ensure the water delivered to consumers meets all applicable standards.

Based on the analysis of available information, this spring source is rated as having a medium susceptibility to protozoa and pesticide contamination. This rating is due primarily to the high percentage of pasture and row crop land covers (respectively) in the assessment area. No permitted discharges or other regulated facilities have been identified in the assessment area using GIS.

Other useful information

Your water's pH is about 7.4. Your water's hardness is about 23 grains per gallon (about 390 ppm CaCO₃).

Phone numbers

Your contact at OCWA: Dick Crouse, 315-673-4304 x14
Questions about water quality: Bob Rusyn, 315-673-4304 x11
Onondaga County Health Dept for questions about Source Water Assessment Program: 315-435-6600
EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 800-426-4791.

More information:

or 315-455-7061
After hours & weekend emergency answering service 315-475-7601