Drinking Water and Well Maintenance

Most Americans take water for granted. They have clean, safe water supplied by a municipal water facility where the quality is regulated by state and federal authorities. In Onondaga County, residents with public water connections receive their water from a number of different places. The City of Syracuse Department of Water has utilized Skaneateles Lake as a drinking water supply since 1894 and provides retail water service to the entire city, as well as portions of the towns of Dewitt, Onondaga, Geddes, Camillus, Skaneateles, Salina and the villages of Jordan and Elbridge. The other supplier of public water in this area is the Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA), which delivers water from Otisco Lake, Lake Ontario, and Skaneateles Lake to nearly 340,000 consumers in the Central New York area. To look up the water source for your neighborhood, visit the OCWA web site at http://www.ocwa.org/o13.html.

Unlike the folks on public water, homeowners who draw water from a well or spring are responsible for monitoring, maintaining and treating the water they drink. Use the information provided in this web site and the associated links to help you make sure your water is clean and safe to drink.

Testing Your Water

Private water supplies should be tested on a regular basis. The frequency of testing depends on location, construction, and on previous test results. Testing every 2-3 years may be sufficient for wells that have no history of contamination, are isolated from pollution sources, and have at least 50 feet of watertight casing. Shallow wells, wells that have been previously contaminated, and wells without a watertight casing (such as dug wells or springs) should be tested at least once per year, preferably in the spring.

Lake water tests should be interpreted with caution because small plumes of contaminated water can move around the lake, resulting in inconsistent water quality over time.

What to test for?

Testing water for every potential contaminant is possible, but very expensive and usually not necessary. It is more important to test on a regular basis for a few indicators of contamination and maintain a record of the results! A routine water test often includes testing for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, pH, and total dissolved solids. Call Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County (315-424-9485) or the Department of Health for more information.

A number of fact sheets are available on the Publications Page that describe the various tests in more detail, as well as how to test for specific nusiance or aesthetic qualities, such as hardness or undesirable tastes.

If your well test came back positive for bacteria, download "Instructions for Shock Chlorination"

Water Treatment Systems

Just because you don't treat your water now, that doesn't mean you shouldn't start! Disinfection and filtration is recommended for water drawn from lakes, shallow wells and wells that test positive for coliform bacteria even after shock chlorination. The most common disinfection methods are in-line chlorination and ultraviolet radiation in combination with a filter. Using in-line chlorination or ultraviolet radiation in combination with a filter that is 40 microns or smaller has the added benefit of protecting your plumbing from zebra mussels. A filter 1 micron or smaller will protect against giardia and cryptosporidium. Check out the "The Water Treatment Fact Sheet Series" from the Water Publications Page to learn more about the various types of systems, as well as treatment for lead, hydrogen sulfide ("rotten egg" smell), iron and magnesium.