Syracuse, New York Water Outage Today
Live Syracuse water outage reports, City of Syracuse Department of Water’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
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No water outage reports in Syracuse, New York in the last 24 hours
The most recent water outage report from Syracuse came in 4 days ago. Across New York, 1 report came in over the same 24 hours.
Who supplies water in Syracuse?
Drinking water in Syracuse, New York is supplied by City of Syracuse Department of Water, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in New York are regulated by the New York State Department of Health and county health departments.
To report no water or a main break, call City of Syracuse Department of Water at 315-448-8360.
Syracuse water system at a glance
The system behind most taps in Syracuse is Syracuse City, which EPA records list as serving roughly 192,000 people. Customers know it as City of Syracuse Department of Water; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Syracuse City (NY3304334) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 192,000 through 45,503 service connections |
| Source of the water | Surface water (rivers, lakes or reservoirs) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 2 surface intakes, 3 treatment points, 5 storage tanks and reservoirs |
| Connections to other systems | 3 |
| State regulator | New York State Department of Health and county health departments |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 17 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 70 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
What feeds the taps in Syracuse
Tap water in Syracuse starts as surface water. Syracuse City takes it from Skaneateles Lake # 1 (54") and Skaneateles Lake # 2 (60") and runs it through treatment before it reaches the mains. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Syracuse City WTP, Treatment Plant At Woodland Reservoir, and Treatment Plant At Westcott Reservoir. After treatment the water is held in 5 storage tanks and reservoirs, which is the buffer that keeps taps running for a few hours after a pump or main fails.
What this means in an outage. Because the water is drawn from open surface sources, it has to be filtered and disinfected continuously. A plant problem therefore hits everyone at once, unlike a main break, which only dries up the blocks on either side of the damaged pipe.
Main breaks and shutoffs in Syracuse: the usual causes
These are the causes that match the record for Syracuse, listed roughly in order of how much they matter here.
- Freezing weather. Syracuse sees about 137 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 51 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on February 24, 2015. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 43 days, ending March 2, 2015. Frozen service lines and meters cause single-address outages, while ground frost and thaw cycles crack older mains and produce the street-wide breaks.
- Older neighborhoods and pipe. 76.6% of occupied homes in Syracuse were built before 1970, against 35.5% nationally. Streets of that age tend to sit on cast iron and early steel mains that are near or past their design life, which is where most breaks start.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 43 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Onondaga County from 2015 through 2026, and 4 days a year bring an inch of rain or more. Floodwater can undercut pipe crossings, swamp pump stations and overload treatment plants, and a notice to boil water often follows when it enters the system.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Onondaga County number 248 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on National Grid run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
- Damage from other crews. Water mains share the ground with gas, power and telecom lines, and a strike by any contractor can dry up a block in seconds.
- Planned shutoffs and a problem at one address. Valve replacements and new connections are announced ahead, often with door hangers. If neighbors have water, check your own shutoff valve, meter and pressure regulator before calling.
Freeze, heat and rain: the Syracuse weather record
Main break season in Syracuse runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 137.4 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 50.8 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 49.8 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 0.8 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 3.8 |
| Average annual precipitation | 44.2 in |
| Wettest year | 2021 (48.7 in) |
| Driest year | 2016 (37.7 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | February 24, 2015 |
| Hottest day in the record | July 1, 2018 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 29.5 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2021 with 48.7 inches; the driest was 2016 with 37.7. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
These counts come from a gridded reanalysis, which smooths out single-day extremes and can differ by a few degrees from an airport thermometer. Use them to compare seasons and years, not as official station records.
Is Syracuse water safe? Boil notices and EPA record
EPA lists 17 health-based violations for Syracuse City since 2015, which is more than most systems of its size. It also lists 9 monitoring or reporting entries that are about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent health-based entries:
- March 2025: A treatment technique violation
- March 2025: A treatment technique violation under the surface water treatment rules
- June 2024: A treatment technique violation under the surface water treatment rules It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Surface water treatment and turbidity | 17 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 7 |
| Coliform bacteria testing | 0 | 2 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Monitoring and other Health-based
Violations are counted by the year the compliance period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
A boil water notice in Syracuse is a separate thing from a violation. City of Syracuse Department of Water issues one when pressure falls low enough for contamination to enter the pipes, after a main break is repaired, or when a routine test comes back positive. The New York State Department of Health and county health departments oversees the process, and the notice stays until clean samples come back, usually a day or two after pressure returns.
What the lead tests and housing age say about Syracuse
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Syracuse City is 12 ppb (2025). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is under it, but not by much.
Highest result on file: 70 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
The age of the housing matters more than the utility's test average: 76.6% of occupied homes in Syracuse predate 1970 and 1986 was the year lead pipe and solder were banned. Flush the cold tap after an outage and ask City of Syracuse Department of Water whether your service line is on its lead inventory.
How long a water outage lasts in Syracuse
Most repairs of an ordinary main break in Syracuse take half a day once the crew is on site. Bigger mains, deep bury and busy roads stretch that to a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | The posted window, though crews often finish ahead of it |
| Ordinary main break | Half a day once the crew has isolated the pipe |
| Large or deep main | One to three days, longer if parts must be ordered |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | Hours to a day, once power or the pump is restored |
| Boil water notice after service returns | One to two days while samples are tested |
| Frozen service line or meter | Hours if you can thaw it, longer if the pipe has split |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
City of Syracuse Department of Water will post an estimated restoration time for a break that affects many customers; ask for the repair crew's estimate when you call.
How much water to keep on hand in Syracuse
The average household in Syracuse has about 2.4 people, so FEMA's minimum of one gallon per person per day comes to roughly 7 gallons for three days and 34 gallons for two weeks.
- 16.8% of residents report a disability (US 13.3%), so check on neighbors who rely on running water for medical equipment.
- 58.4% of households rent. Tell your landlord or property manager about a leak or outage right away, since the shutoff valve may be theirs.
- Do not forget the water heater: the tank holds roughly 30 to 50 gallons you can drink after it is switched off and allowed to cool.
- If a planned shutoff or storm is coming, fill the tub and some buckets for flushing toilets and washing; keep drinking water in clean sealed containers.
Water systems near Syracuse, side by side
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | Syracuse City | 192,000 | Surface | 17 | 70 |
| Rochester, NY | Rochester City | 210,000 | Surface | 1 | 11.7 |
| Schenectady, NY | Schenectady City Water Works | 61,821 | Ground | 0 | 4 |
| Buffalo, NY | Buffalo Water Authority | 276,000 | Surface | 0 | 4.9 |
| Allentown, PA | Lca Allentown Division | 118,000 | Surface | 0 | 10.2 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Rochester, NY · Schenectady, NY · Buffalo, NY · Allentown, PA
Staying informed about water service in Syracuse
Sign up for alerts from City of Syracuse Department of Water and check its website or social accounts when the water goes off. If a boil advisory is issued, the water outage guide covers how to treat water and when it is safe again.
Syracuse quick answers about water service
Who do I call about no water in Syracuse?
City of Syracuse Department of Water at 315-448-8360, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
What is the source of Syracuse tap water?
Per EPA, the water system for Syracuse (Syracuse City) is classed as surface water. It draws from Skaneateles Lake # 1 (54") and Skaneateles Lake # 2 (60").
Is Syracuse tap water safe to drink?
EPA lists 17 health-based violations for Syracuse City since 2015, most recently a treatment technique violation in March 2025, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 12 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. After a boil water notice, follow it until the utility lifts it.
When is water main break season in Syracuse?
Cold weather drives most breaks in Syracuse, which averages about 137 freezing days a year. Expect the most calls from December through February, especially a day or two after a hard freeze when the ground thaws.
Why did the water pressure drop at my house in Syracuse?
A sudden drop usually means a break or valve problem nearby, while a slow decline in the evening points to demand. If the whole street is affected, tell City of Syracuse Department of Water; if not, look at your own regulator and shutoff.
How long does a boil water notice last in Syracuse?
Typically a day or two. Bacteria tests take about 24 hours, so City of Syracuse Department of Water cannot end a notice until clean samples come back; the New York State Department of Health and county health departments sets the rules for that process.
How much drinking water should I keep at home in Syracuse?
Store at least three days of water, and two weeks if you can. With about 2.4 people in a typical Syracuse home, that is roughly 7 and 34 gallons.
Does Syracuse have lead pipes?
It depends on the age of your home. About 76.6% of occupied homes in Syracuse were built before 1970, and lead service lines remained legal until 1986. Contact City of Syracuse Department of Water about your address and flush the cold tap after any outage.
Is there a water outage map for Syracuse?
This page shows resident reports from Syracuse for the last 24 hours. For a street-by-street picture, use the alerts and outage page of City of Syracuse Department of Water; many utilities also text boil notices.
Recent water reports in Syracuse
- Water reports in Syracuse, last 24h
- 0
- Most recent water report here
- 4 days ago
- Water reports across New York, last 24h
- 1
- City population
- 148,620
Other outage types in Syracuse
Water Service Outages in cities near Syracuse
- Utica, NY 46 mi · Mohawk Valley Water Authority
- Rochester, NY 74 mi · City of Rochester Water Bureau
- Schenectady, NY 113 mi · City of Schenectady Water Department
- Scranton, PA 116 mi · Pennsylvania American Water
- Albany, NY 124 mi · Albany Water Department
- Buffalo, NY 139 mi · Buffalo Water
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
Bill Morris Reported this outage
No domestic water at 221 Hurlburt Road. No water from Hurlburt Road/Rockford to Meadowbrook. Crew active on a gate or valve. Glad that there on it. Thanks Water Dept.