City of Syracuse Launches Lead Water Educational Materials
Published on January 14, 2026
The City of Syracuse Department of Water has developed new lead water public education materials to help residents understand the risks of lead exposure from pipes and steps they can take to protect their families. Developed in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), the resources are a part of the City's ongoing commitment to public health and safety.
The City's educational materials provide guidance on identifying potential sources of lead, steps to reduce exposure and what is being done.
In Person: Materials available at City Hall, 233 E. Washington St., Syracuse, NY 13202; the Department of Water, 101 N. Beech St., Syracuse, New York 13210; and at public libraries and community centers.
By Phone: Call 315-448-8354 for assistance or to request printed copies by mail.
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.
The City of Syracuse Water Department treats drinking water with orthophosphate, a food-grade additive approved by the FDA and recognized by the EPA for reducing lead levels by coating lead service lines. The City continues to monitor water quality, is conducting regularly scheduled sampling collection as required by the EPA, is actively replacing lead lines during projects, and is developing a plan to replace all known lead service lines ahead of the EPA's deadline.
For more information about lead safety and the City's ongoing commitment, visit syr.gov/lead-free-syracuse or contact the Department of Water at 315-448-8354.
For Media Inquiries
For media inquiries, members of the press should contact the Office of Communications by emailing [email protected].
City of Syracuse, NY published this content on January 14, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 14, 2026 at 14:37 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]