In a significant turn of events, the Onondaga County Water Agency (OCWA) has announced the lifting of mandatory water restrictions that had been imposed for almost a month across six towns in Central New York. This decision comes after the successful repair of a damaged transmission main, allowing water supplies to be restored to normal levels.
However, this is not the end of the story. OCWA is still encouraging residents and businesses in these towns to exercise caution in their water use until comprehensive water quality tests are finalized and the agency’s reservoir—capable of holding up to 50 million gallons—is completely replenished.
"We kindly ask our customers to remain conscious of their water consumption during this period," OCWA stated in a recent press release. "Voluntary conservation measures will remain in place until the Eastern Reservoir, which serves the affected areas, reaches its regular capacity. We anticipate this process to wrap up later this week."
Currently, the water supplied from the reservoir is confirmed to be safe for drinking. While car washes are allowed to resume operations, OCWA advises limiting their hours to ten per day until the reservoir is fully stocked again.
The initial rupture of the transmission main occurred on December 20, impacting approximately 27,000 customers in the communities of DeWitt, Manlius, Pompey, Sullivan, Lenox, and Lincoln. In response to this situation, both residents and businesses made concerted efforts to reduce their water usage. Meanwhile, OCWA managed to secure alternative water supplies from as far away as Oneida, ensuring that taps remained functional during the crisis.
Jeff Brown, the executive director of OCWA, indicated that while the precise cost of the repairs is still being assessed, it is expected to run into the millions. Fortunately, the agency has a reserve fund of $5 million set aside specifically for such emergencies.
This recent incident is just one chapter in a series of challenges OCWA has faced regarding water leaks in the same vicinity since last summer. The troubles began when a valve on the main transmission line developed a leak, which was addressed in August. However, by November, another leak was discovered just 30 feet away from where the first repair was made. Brown clarified that these two incidents were unrelated.
Although the November leak was repaired, several additional leaks emerged near the main pipe in December. After temporary fixes did not hold, OCWA was compelled to shut off the pipe altogether on December 20.
For further updates, see related articles on OCWA's ongoing efforts to manage water supply and repairs.
