Consumer Confidence Report For
Customers of East Side Spring - May 2010
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 ½ mile south of the intersection of
Solvay Rd. A Source Water Assessment for East Side spring has been completed by the New York State Department of Health. It can be
found on the last page 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 1/4 mile north of the spring. The water then continues on feeding approximately 9,862 gallons a day to 12 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 2 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 chlorination building and the chlorine level in the system are
checked daily by OCWA personnel. 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
2009. In cases where a contaminant is tested for less than once per year, the most recent results (prior to 2009) 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.
Detected contaminants sampled at the entry point
Barium
Likely source: Discharge of drilling wastes, discharge from metal refineries, erosion of natural deposits.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Level found (range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Jul 09
0.20
mg/L
2
2
Calcium
Likely source: Naturally occurring.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Jul 09
80
mg/L
NA
NA
Chloride
Likely source: Naturally occurring, road salts
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Jul 09
49
mg/L
NA
250
Chlorine, free, residual
Likely source: Added to water to kill harmful bacteria and to prevent the regrowth of bacteria.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Daily
1.15
(0.80-1.43)
mg/L
N/A
4 (MRDL)
Fluoride
Likely source: Erosion of natural deposits, discharge from fertilizer. OCWA does not add fluoride to the water here.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Jul 09
0.23
mg/L
N/A
2.2
Magnesium
Likely source: Naturally occurring.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Jul 09
28
mg/L
N/A
N/A
Nickel
Likely source: Erosion of natural deposits.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Jul 09
2.9
µg/L
N/A
N/A
Nitrate
Likely source: Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Jul 09
4.3
mg/L
10
10
Sodium
Likely source: Naturally occurring; Road salts; water softeners; animal wastes.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Jul 09
25
mg/L
N/A
See Health Effects*
*Health Effects of Sodium: There is no MCL for Sodium. However, 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: Naturally occurring.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Jul 09
24
mg/L
N/A
250
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 (1-800-458-1158) or call
EPA’s Radon Hotline (1-800-SOS-RADON).
In anticipation of the EPA adopting regulations for radon in ground water systems OCWA tested for it in April and October 2009.
The effluent of the Chlorination Building was used as the sampling point . The average amount of Radon detected was 470 pCi/l.
This ranged from 423 pCi/l in April to 516 pCi/l in October.
Other useful Information
Your water’s pH is about 7.5
Your water’s hardness is about 24 grains per gallon (about 410 ppm CaCO3 )
To find information about Conservation, Frequently asked questions, Terms and Abbreviations, and to learn more about OCWA and Water Quality Issues please refer to the main part of
OCWA’s 2009 Consumer Confidence Report.
Detected contaminants sampled in the distribution system
Chlorine (free, residual)
Likely source: Added to water to kill harmful bacteria and to prevent the regrowth of bacteria.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Average level found (range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Weekly in 2009
1.09
(0.90-1.34)
mg/L
N/A
4 (MRDL)
About chlorine: Chlorine is added to your water in order to kill bacteria. In 2009 OCWA took weekly bacteriological samples along with the
weekly Chlorine sample. All 52 samples were negative for coliform bacteria, no violations occurred.
Copper
Likely source: Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Average level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Sep 08
1.21*
(0.049-1.6)
mg/L
1.3
AL = 1.3
*About Copper: OCWA must test 5 houses in this district every 3 years for lead & copper. The highest and second highest
concentrations of Lead/Copper of these 5 homes are then averaged together. This result must be at or below the Action Levels or corrosion
control treatment techniques must be started. In 2008 none of the houses tested were above the Action Level for lead. Only one home
exceeded the Action Level for copper. OCWA will test for Lead and Copper again in 2011.
Lead
Likely source: Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Average level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Sep 08
3.1*
(nd-3.2)
µg/L
0
AL = 15
*About Lead: OCWA must test 5 houses in this district every 3 years for lead & copper. The highest and second highest
concentrations of Lead/Copper of these 5 homes are then averaged together. This result must be at or below the Action Levels or corrosion
control treatment techniques must be started. In 2008 none of the houses tested were above the Action Level for lead. Only one home
exceeded the Action Level for copper. OCWA will test for Lead and Copper again in 2011.
Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Likely source: By-product of drinking water chlorination. TTHMs form when source water contains large amounts of organic matter.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Average level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Aug 09
7.1
µg/L
N/A
80
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 (THM’s) and Haloacetic acids (HAA's) are classes of chemicals that OCWA is required to monitor for in its
distribution system.
Haloacetic Acids (HHA5s)
Likely source: By-product of drinking water chlorination.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Average level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
No
Aug 09
3.5
µg/L
N/A
60
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 (THM’s) and Haloacetic acids (HAA's) are classes of chemicals that OCWA is required to monitor for in its
distribution system.
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.
Phone Numbers
Your contact at OCWA Dick Crouse (673-4304 ext.14)
Questions about water quality Bob Rusyn (673-4304 ext.11)
Onondaga Co. Health Dept / Questions about Source Water Assessment Program
(435-6600)
EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(1-800-426-4791)
More information: or 315-455-7061 After hours & weekend emergency answering service 315-475-7601
or 315-455-7061