Syracuse, New York gets its drinking water from Skaneateles Lake — one of the cleanest lakes in the United States. The water is so pure that Syracuse is one of only a handful of U.S. cities with a filtration avoidance determination from the EPA, meaning the source water meets quality standards without requiring full filtration treatment. The city adds chlorine for disinfection, fluoride, and a corrosion inhibitor, but that’s about it.
This makes Syracuse’s drinking water story unusual. The water itself is excellent. The complications lie elsewhere.
Onondaga Lake: The Dirtiest Lake in America
You can’t talk about Syracuse and water without talking about Onondaga Lake. For decades, it was called the most polluted lake in America — contaminated by a century of industrial waste from Allied Chemical (later Honeywell), combined sewer overflows from the city, and mercury, chlorinated benzenes, and other toxic compounds in its sediments.
Onondaga Lake is not a drinking water source. But it’s the body of water Syracuse sits beside, and its contamination has defined the city’s environmental identity. Honeywell has spent over $1 billion on remediation under EPA Superfund oversight, including dredging contaminated sediments, capping the lake bottom, and treating contaminated groundwater flowing into the lake.
The cleanup has shown real results. Fish are returning, recreational use is expanding, and water quality in the lake has improved dramatically. But the legacy is a reminder of what industrial contamination can do — and why source water protection matters.
Lead Service Lines
Syracuse has an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 lead service lines in its distribution system. Many of the city’s homes were built between 1880 and 1940, right in the peak lead plumbing era. The city has been working on inventory and replacement, with funding from the state’s Environmental Facilities Corporation and federal infrastructure dollars.
Syracuse Water Department uses orthophosphate as a corrosion control treatment to reduce lead leaching. The city’s 90th percentile lead levels have stayed below the EPA action level in recent testing, but individual homes can exceed that number depending on their specific plumbing.
New York State’s lead testing requirements in schools revealed elevated lead levels in drinking fountains at multiple Syracuse schools, prompting fixture replacements and increased attention to the issue.
Salt Mining Legacy
Syracuse was built on salt — literally. The city was a major salt production center in the 19th century, and subsurface salt deposits extend throughout the region. Historic salt mining operations left behind cavities and altered groundwater chemistry.
While this doesn’t directly affect the city’s Skaneateles Lake supply, it impacts groundwater quality in the Syracuse area. Private wells in Onondaga County can encounter elevated chloride and sodium levels from natural salt deposits and historic mining. Road salt application during Syracuse’s notoriously harsh winters adds to the chloride load in local waterways and shallow groundwater.
PFAS Near Hancock Field
The former Hancock Field Air National Guard Base — now the Syracuse Hancock International Airport and the home of the 174th Attack Wing — has a documented history of AFFF use for firefighting training. PFAS contamination has been detected in groundwater near the facility.
New York State’s strict PFAS standards (10 ppt for PFOA, 10 ppt for PFOS) and the federal limits (4 ppt each) mean this contamination is being actively monitored. The city’s drinking water comes from Skaneateles Lake, not local groundwater, so the municipal supply isn’t directly affected. But residents and businesses using private wells near the airport should test for PFAS.
Maintaining Filtration Avoidance
Syracuse’s filtration avoidance determination depends on maintaining the exceptional quality of Skaneateles Lake. The city owns land around portions of the lake’s watershed and has strict regulations on development and agricultural activity in the watershed.
Climate change poses a long-term threat. Warming temperatures can increase algal growth, change precipitation patterns, and affect source water quality. If the lake’s quality deteriorates enough, the city could lose its filtration avoidance status — requiring construction of an expensive filtration plant.
The city is investing in watershed protection programs and enhanced monitoring to prevent that outcome.
What Residents Can Do
- Check your service line. Contact Syracuse Water Department to learn whether your home has a lead service line. If yes, use a certified lead-removal filter.
- Flush your taps. Run cold water for 2-3 minutes after periods of non-use, especially in older homes.
- Private well owners in Onondaga County: Test for chloride, sodium, nitrates, bacteria, and PFAS (especially near the airport).
- Support watershed protection. Skaneateles Lake is an extraordinary resource. Advocate for maintaining the strict watershed protections that keep Syracuse’s water clean.
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and advise on the right approach for your home.
See also our coverage of Rochester water quality and Buffalo water quality.
Sources: Syracuse Water Department, NYS DEC, EPA SDWIS, Onondaga County Health Department, USGS