Consumer Confidence Report For
Customers of Sky Ridge Water District - May 2010
Public Water System ID# NY 3304337
The Onondaga County Water Authority (by contract) is responsible for maintaining the water system for customers residing in the Skyridge Water
District. The Skyridge Water district is located in Manlius, NY and contains 29 houses (a population of about 100) on Gulf Road and Horseshoe
Lane. The district is fed by 2 wells. Well #1 is located on the southern tine of Horseshoe Lane about 800 ft. east of Gulf Rd. Well #1 feeds the
area an average of 2,195 gallons per day. Well #2 is located on Gulf Rd. about 1000 ft. north of Horseshoe Lane’s northern tine. Well #2 feeds
an average flow of 3,244 gallons per day. The system also has a 50,000 gallon storage tank. The New York State Department of Health has
completed the Source Water Assessment for the Skyridge Water District system. It can be found on page 4.
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 daily inspections are made to the chlorination facilities 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 buildings. Distribution system samples are taken
at taps within the district.
Detected contaminants in the distribution system
Copper and lead in the distribution system
Likely source: Copper and lead-corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits. Copper only-leaching from wood preservatives
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Average of 2 highest (range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
Copper
No
Sep 08
0.105
(.058 -0.11)
mg/L
1.3
AL = 1.3
Lead
No
Sep 08
6.2
(2.3-7.6)
µg/L
0
AL = 15
About lead & copper: OCWA must test a minimum of 5 houses in this district every 3 years for lead & copper. In 2008 OCWA sampled
6 homes. The highest and second highest concentrations of Lead/Copper of these 6 homes were 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 or copper. OCWA will test for Lead and Copper again in 2011.
Disinfection residual & disinfection by-products
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)
Chlorine, free, residual
No
weekly
0.71
(0.02 -1.60)
mg/L
N/A
4 (MRDL)
Likely source: By-product of drinking water chlorination. TTHMs form when source water contains large amounts of organic matter.
Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
No
Aug 09
10.6
(9.1 - 12)
µg/L
N/A
80
Likely source: By-product of drinking water chlorination.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5's)
No
Aug 09
6.4
(4.1 - 8.7)
µg/L
N/A
60
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.
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.
Detected contaminants sampled at the entry point
Likely source: Erosion of natural deposits.
Violation yes/no
Sampling date(s)
Average level found
(range)
Units
MCLG
Regulatory limit (MCL, TT, or AL)
Gross Alpha Activity, Well #2
No
Quarterly Composite 2008
2.19
pCi/L
0
15
Likely source: Discharge of drilling wastes, discharge from metal refineries, erosion of natural deposits.
Barium, well #1
No
Jul 09
0.20
mg/L
2
2
Barium, well #2
No
Jul 09
0.21
mg/L
2
2
Likely source: Naturally occurring.
Calcium, well #1
No
Jul 09
85
mg/L
N/A
N/A
Calcium, well #2
No
Jul 09
80
mg/L
N/A
N/A
Likely source: Naturally occurring, road salts.
Chloride, well #1
No
Jul 09
130
mg/L
N/A
250
Chloride, well #2
No
Jul 09
46
mg/L
N/A
250
Likely source: Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from fertilizer;
OCWA does not add fluoride to this water.
fluoride, well #1
No
Jul 09
.32
mg/L
N/A
2.2
fluoride, well #2
No
Jul 09
.34
mg/L
N/A
2.2
Likely source: Naturally occurring.
Magnesium, well #1
No
Jul 09
18
mg/L
N/A
N/A
Magnesium, well #2
No
Jul 09
18
mg/L
N/A
N/A
Likely source: Erosion of natural deposits.
Nickel, well #1
No
Jul 09
3.8
µg/L
N/A
N/A
Nickel, well #2
No
Jul 09
3.8
µg/L
N/A
N/A
Likely source: Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks, sewage, erosion of natural deposits.
Nitrate, well #1
No
Jul 09
2.9
mg/L
10
10
Nitrate, well #2
No
Jul 09
2.6
mg/L
10
10
Likely source: Erosion of natural deposits.
Radium 226, well #2
No
Quarterly Composite 2008
0.699
pCi/L
0
5
Radium 226: The MCL for Combined Radium 226 and 228 is 5 pCi/L, this sample was found to have 0.699 pCi/L of Radium 226.
Radium 228 was not detected.
Likely source: Naturally occurring, road salts, water softeners, animal wastes
Sodium, well #1
No
Jul 09
63
mg/L
N/A
See note.
Sodium, well #2
No
Jul 09
16
mg/L
N/A
See note.
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.
Likely source: Naturally occurring.
Sulfate, well #1
No
Jul 09
27
mg/L
N/A
250
Sulfate, well #2
No
Jul 09
27
mg/L
N/A
250
Likely source: Naturally occurring, mining waste.
Zinc, well #1
No
Jul 08
0.19
mg/L
N/A
5
Zinc, well #2
No
Jul 08
0.088
mg/L
N/A
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 (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 twice in 2009. Both of the
wells in the Skyridge Water District were tested using the effluents of the Chlorination Buildings as sampling points.
The average amount of Radon detected in Well #1 was 136 pCi/l. This ranged from 99 pCi/l in October to 173 pCi/l in April.
The average amount of Radon detected in Well #2 was 622 pCi/l. This ranged from 561 pCi/l in April to 683 pCi/l in October.
Other useful information
Your water’s pH is about 7.6
Your water’s hardness is about 21 grains per gallon (about 360 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.
Source water assessment
The NYS DOH has completed a source water assessment for this system, based on available information. Possible and actual threats to this
drinking water source were evaluated. The state source water assessment includes a susceptibility rating based on the risk posed by each potential
source of contamination and how easily contaminants can move through the subsurface to the wells. The susceptibility rating is an estimate of the
potential for contamination of the source water, it does not mean that the water delivered to consumers is, or will become contaminated. See “Table
of Detected Contaminants” section for a list of the contaminants that have been detected. The source water assessments provide resource
managers with additional information for protecting source waters into the future. Water suppliers and county and state health departments will use
this information to direct future source water protection activities. These may include water quality monitoring, resource management, planning,
and education programs.
As mentioned before, your water is derived from 2 drilled wells. The source water assessment has rated these wells as having a medium-high to
high susceptibility to microbials and nitrates. These ratings are due primarily to the close proximity of a permitted discharge facility (industrial/commercial facilities that discharge wastewater into the environment and are regulated by the state and/or federal government) and a septic system
as well as low intensity residential activity in the assessment area. In addition, the wells draw from fractured bedrock, and a lower permeability layer
exists above the aquifer. While the source water assessment rates your wells as being susceptible to microbials, please note that your water is
disinfected to ensure that that the finished water delivered into your home meets New York State’s drinking water standards for microbial
contamination.
A copy of the assessment, including a map of the assessment area, can be obtained by contacting us, as noted below.
Phone Numbers
Your contact at OCWA Sean Hayes (455-7061 ext. 3130)
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
