The frequency that various contaminants are tested for
is regulated by the State and can vary from source to
source. The State allows for some contaminants to be
tested for less than once a year because the
concentrations of these contaminants do not change
frequently. Some of our data, though representative,
is more than one year old. Some contaminants are
monitored at the various sources more often than
required.
Likely source of contamination: Naturally occurring, road salts, water softeners, animal wastes
Otisco Lake
Violation yes/no
Date(s) of sampling
Average level found (range)
Units measured
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Feb 07 Aug 07
18.5 (18-19)
mg/L
NA
See health effects
Lake Ontario
No
Jul 07
17
mg/L
NA
See health effects
Skaneateles Lake
No
May 07
9.4
mg/L
NA
See health effects
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.
Sulfate
Likely source of contamination: Naturally occurring
Likely source of contamination: Waste from nuclear reactors, reactor parts and fluids, atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, used as tracer in medical & agricultural studies
Likely source of contamination: Naturally present in the environment
Total coliform bacteria
Violation yes/no
Date(s) of sampling
Month with highest % positive samples
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Approx 78 per week
Oct 0.55% (2 of 364)
NA
0
>5% positive samples in any month
Sample from OCWA distribution system
Whenever a positive sample for total coliform is
found, the sample is further tested for the presence
of E. coli, and four check samples are taken.
No samples were found to be E. coli positive in 2007.
OCWA regularly samples about 78 sites per week located
throughout our distribution system. We test these
sites for both bacteria and disinfectant residual to
ensure that our water is of a safe and sanitary quality.
Disinfection by-products:
During disinfection, certain by-products form as a
result of chlorine reacting with naturally occurring
organic matter. The disinfection process is carefully
monitored so that disinfection is effective, while
levels of disinfection by-products are kept low.
Trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) are
classes of chemicals that OCWA is required to monitor
in its distribution system.
Likely source of contamination: By-product of drinking water chlorination. TTHMs form when source water contains large amounts of organic matter.
Otisco Lake
Violation yes/no
Date(s) of sampling
Average level found (range)
Units measured
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Quarterly: Feb, May, Aug, Nov
52 (30-64)
µg/L
NA
80
Lake Ontario
Violation yes/no
Date(s) of sampling
Average level found (range)
Units measured
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Quarterly: Feb, May, Aug, Nov
52 (32- 78)
µg/L
NA
80
Skaneateles Lake
Violation yes/no
Date(s) of sampling
Average level found (range)
Units measured
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Quarterly: Feb, May, Aug, Nov
31.5 (19-25)
µg/L
NA
80
Total trihalomethanes are the combined concentration of the following four
contaminants: bromodichloromethane, bromoform, chloroform, and
dibromochloromethane.
Likely source of contamination: By-product of drinking water chlorination.
Otisco Lake
Violation yes/no
Date(s) of sampling
Average level found (range)
Units measured
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Quarterly: Feb, May, Aug, Nov
28 (ND-43)
µg/L
NA
60
Lake Ontario
Violation yes/no
Date(s) of sampling
Average level found (range)
Units measured
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Quarterly: Feb, May, Aug, Nov
39 (11-61)
µg/L
NA
60
Skaneateles Lake
Violation yes/no
Date(s) of sampling
Average level found (range)
Units measured
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Quarterly: Feb, May, Aug, Nov
23 (8.4-30)
µg/L
NA
60
Haloacetic acids are the combined concentration of the following five
contaminants: dibromo-, dichloro-, monobromo-, monochloro-, and trichloro-,
acetic acids.
Customers OCWA get their water from one of three sources. Water may originate
from Otisco Lake, which is treated by OCWA itself, Lake Ontario which is
treated by the Metropolitan Water Board (MWB) and wholesaled to OCWA, or
Skaneateles Lake which is treated by the Syracuse Water Department and also
sold to OCWA. Customers may also get a mixture of these waters.
Water purveyors are required to measure
turbidity
as water leaves their plants. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of
water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality. High
turbidity can hinder the effectiveness of disinfectants. Treatment plants that
filter also measure it because it is a good indicator of filter efficiency.
Otisco Lake and Lake Ontario waters are filtered. Skaneateles Lake water is
not.
On Jan 6, 2007 because of heavy rains and runoff, the turbidity levels
entering the City of Syracuse's intake exceeded the maximum allowable standard
of 5 turbidity units. OCWA customers were not affected by this high turbidity
water. This is because OCWA maintains equipment that continuously monitors the
turbidity of Skaneateles Lake water purchased at our connection in the Westhill
Water District. This connection is shut down when turbidity approaches 5 NTU.
Other OCWA customers who receive Skaneateles Water would not have been affected
by this event.
Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with
disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate
the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria,
viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps,
diarrhea, and associated headaches.
Please pay special attention to the additional statements in this report regarding Cryptosporidium.
Likely source of contamination: Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Average level found (range)
90th percentile value
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Jun 05
1.8 (ND-20)
4.3
µg/L
0
AL=15*
*AL (Action Level)—Only 10% of samples may exceed this level.
*About lead and copper:
To deter the leaching of lead and/or copper from our customers' pipes, OCWA has
been mandated to implement corrosion control. Lead and copper sampling is
required every 3 years.
The method of corrosion control used on waters originating from Otisco and
Skaneateles lakes is the addition of orthophosphate. The adjustment of pH is
the method used for Ontario water. OCWA's latest sampling period was in June of
2005 when OCWA sampled and tested the customers' taps to make sure the
corrosion controls were effective.
90th percentile values for lead and copper:
The values reported for lead and copper represent the 90th percentile. The 90th
percentile value is the concentration that 90% of the taps sampled were at or
below. Since the Action Level for Lead is 15 µg/L, 90% of the taps tested had
to be at or below this value. As you can see from the above chart, 90% of the
taps tested were at or below 4.3 µg/L in June of 2005. The Action Level for
copper is 1.3 mg/L. The observed 90th percentile for copper was 0.18 mg/L. Of
the 117 samples that OCWA tested in June of 2005, only 2 (or 1.7%) exceeded the
action level for lead. No samples exceeded the action level for copper.
The testing showed that our methods of corrosion control are working.
More information: or 315-455-7061 After hours & weekend emergency answering service 315-475-7601
Please pay special attention to the additional statements in this report regarding 