Customers of the Village of Baldwinsville Water Department who live south of the Seneca River and on Paper Mill Island are hereby ordered by the Onondaga County Health Department to boil all water for drinking and culinary purposes.

On Wednesday, June 12, 2019, inadequate chlorine levels were found in the drinking water as a result of the chlorination system not working properly. Chlorine is a disinfectant that is used to destroy harmful microbes that could be in the drinking water.

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST.
Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water certified for sale by the New York State Department of Health.  Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills most bacteria and other organisms in the water.

Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. Inadequate disinfection may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.  The symptoms above are not just caused by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

WHAT IS BEING DONE?
The problem was caused by a chlorination system equipment malfunction, which has already been resolved. You will be informed when adequate chlorine levels have been restored, tests show that no harmful bacteria are present, and you no longer need to boil your water. It is anticipated that the problem will be resolved within 3 days.

For more information, please contact Stephen Darcangelo from the Village of Baldwinsville at 315.289.2273 or the Onondaga County Health Department at 315-435-6600.