Residents in parts of northeastern Onondaga and northwestern Madison Counties are under a mandatory water conservation order due to a major leak in a large water main.
The Onondaga County Water Authority, or OCWA, says customers in the Towns of DeWitt, Manlius, Pompey, Sullivan, Lenox, and Lincoln are being asked to use minimum amounts of water for only essential needs.
The leaky pipe distributes Lake Ontario water from a pump station in Clay to reservoirs, which OCWA is monitoring. Repairs could take a week or two, and customers could experience reduced flows and pressures.
In an effort to meet the demand for all water customers during the repair period, OCWA says it is essential for customers to limit water use in the following ways:
• Using laundry facilities in unaffected parts of the OCWA system (western and northern Onondaga County).
• Adjusting all water-using appliances to use the minimum amount of water.
• Running the dishwasher and washing machine at full load. If you wash dishes by hand, use a
bucket or container with soapy water and only use the faucet for quick rinsing of scrubbed dishes.
• Taking 5-minute showers and shallower baths. Turn off the shower while soaping; turn off the
faucet while brushing teeth, etc.
• Reducing the number of toilet flushes per day. Each flush uses about 5 to 7 gallons.
• Using sink and tub stoppers to avoid wasting water.
• Keeping a bottle of chilled drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the water till
it gets cold.
• Eliminating use of water for ornamental purposes, including but not limited to fountains,
artificial waterfalls and reflecting pools.
• Reusing water when possible.
• Commercial Customers: Limiting non-essential work practices that involve water usage and
utilizing additional water conservation measures such as having employees work from home.
• Car Washes: Pausing all wash services until mandatory conservation is lifted and full water
service is restored.
Any critical concerns can be directed to OCWA at 315-455-7061 or the After-Hours Emergency
answering service at 315.475.7601. OCWA says there may be significant delays in connecting to a representative.
