Is Syracuse, NY tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Onondaga County Water Authority. 1 PFAS were detected below the limits.
3 public water systems serve parts of Syracuse. The largest, Onondaga County Water Authority, serves 350,000 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Onondaga County Water Authority
350,000 people · Surface water · EPA ID NY3304336
Buys treated water from City of Syracuse.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 8 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across New York, 31 of 322 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 16 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. New York results.
Syracuse homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Syracuse city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Which system serves your ZIP code
Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.
| System | ZIP codes in Syracuse |
|---|---|
| Onondaga County Water Authority 350,000 people | 13204, 13205, 13206, 13207, 13208, 13210, 13224, 13244, 13290 |
| City of Syracuse 192,000 people | 13202, 13203 |
Other water systems serving Syracuse
- City of Syracuse192,000 people · Surface water · New York · lists this cityLead near 2027 levelAlso: 17 health-based violations since 2016
- Ocwa Skyridge Community Water District50 people · Groundwater · New York · lists this cityNot in EPA's PFAS sample
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| De Witt 4 mi DeWitt Water District – South | None above limits | 3 ppb |
| Clay 10 mi Clay Water District | None above limits | 4 ppb |
| Auburn 23 mi Auburn Water System | None above limits | 1.17 ppb |
| Rome 35 mi Rome City Water System | None above limits | 5 ppb |
| Utica 46 mi Mohawk Valley Water Authority | None above limits | 9 ppb |
| Perinton 65 mi Monroe County Water Authority | None above limits | 5 ppb |
Questions
Is Syracuse tap water safe to drink?
Onondaga County Water Authority has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Syracuse, NY?
3 public water systems serve parts of Syracuse. The largest is Onondaga County Water Authority (350,000 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Syracuse tap water have PFAS?
Onondaga County Water Authority had 1 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Syracuse homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 86% of Syracuse homes as built before 1980 (New York: 74%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Onondaga County Water Authority's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.