Onondaga County, New York: drinking water report. Onondaga County includes Syracuse and about 476,000 residents in central New York.
Onondaga County includes Syracuse and about 476,000 residents in central New York. The Metropolitan Water Board draws from Skaneateles Lake, widely regarded as one of the cleanest large lakes in the Northeast – it is one of only a handful of surface water sources in the U.S. that does not require filtration under EPA rules. The lake's quality is a genuine asset, but it does not make the county immune to water quality concerns.
Onondaga Lake, located within the city of Syracuse, was once considered the most polluted lake in the country. Honeywell (formerly Allied Chemical) discharged mercury and other industrial waste into the lake for decades. According to NYSDEC's 2024 remediation status report, over 2.2 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment have been capped or dredged, but fish consumption advisories remain in effect due to mercury and chlorinated benzene contamination.
The drinking water supply from Skaneateles Lake is separate from Onondaga Lake and remains high quality. However, the EPA's UCMR5 testing did detect PFAS at trace levels in the Syracuse water system. Hancock International Airport's historical use of AFFF is a suspected contributing source, with groundwater monitoring near the airport showing PFOS at 9 ppt.
Syracuse residents benefit from an exceptionally clean source water in Skaneateles Lake, but the trace PFAS detections and aging infrastructure in the distribution system mean household filtration still adds value. Homes with pre-1986 plumbing may have lead solder joints regardless of the source water quality.
Check your water for the most recent data at your address. Even with clean source water, a carbon filter improves taste and removes trace organics. For PFAS specifically, reverse osmosis provides the highest removal rate. Our water filter guide covers both options. Get your detailed report for historical data, and see our New York page for statewide patterns.