LET’S MAKE SENSE OF YOUR WATER!
City of Oneonta Water Quality Report
Population Served: 15,954
Primary Water Source: Wilber Lake, Lower reservoir, Catella Park Well
Source: The City of Oneonta Public Water Supply ID#NY3800154
DID YOU KNOW water quality reports, also known as “Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs),” are annual documents that all public water systems are required to provide to you via mail and online. These reports are supposed to provide important information about the quality of the drinking water delivered over the previous year.
They can be difficult to read or understand. They are often many pages long and contain complex tables and charts. Culligan Water wants to change this and help you MAKE SENSE OF YOUR WATER.
This easy-to-read report will provide you with the following:
- Items of interest: Common water issues discussed within your community.
- Potential concerns: Unregulated contaminants that could be a health concern to you or your family.
- Water hardness: The current level of hard water in your area.
The Water Quality Report Legend:
- Health Concern Contaminants that have known health effects that the EPA regulates to protect public health.
- Aesthetic Issue Not necessarily a health risk but can affect your water’s appearance, taste, or odor.
- Unregulated Possible health risk but NO standards set by the EPA. Emerging chemicals and compounds the EPA is gathering data on.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant that triggers additional action.
Public Health Goal (PHG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water that doesn’t pose a significant risk to health. PHG’s are NOT regulatory standards, and may not be attainable due to current remediation technologies.
ppm: parts per million (μg/L)
ppm: parts per billion (mg/L)
A Summary Of Hudson, NY Water Quality Report
1) Infrastructure & Water System Overview
The City of Oneonta operates a public drinking water system serving approximately 15,954 residents throughout the City and portions of the Town of Oneonta. During 2024, the system produced approximately 547 million gallons of treated drinking water while continuously monitoring water quality throughout the treatment and distribution process.
Routine testing helps monitor drinking water quality for naturally occurring minerals, treatment byproducts, and emerging contaminants while meeting New York State monitoring requirements.
2) Water Sources and Usage
Oneonta’s drinking water comes from Wilber Lake, the Lower Reservoir, and the Catella Park Well.
Before reaching homes and businesses, the water undergoes several treatment processes including:
- Filtration
- Disinfection
- Corrosion control
- Fluoridation
- pH adjustment
As water travels through reservoirs, groundwater, and surrounding watersheds, it naturally encounters minerals and other substances. Many homeowners install additional water treatment to improve taste, reduce contaminants, and protect plumbing and appliances.
3) Disinfection and Water Treatment
Oneonta uses a multi-stage treatment process to help produce drinking water for the community.
Routine testing identified several treatment-related compounds including:
- Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs): Average 52.5 ppb
- Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): Average 46.0 ppb
- Fluoride: Approximately 0.1 mg/L
- PFOS: 0.64 ng/L
Disinfection byproducts and emerging contaminants are commonly monitored as part of ongoing drinking water quality programs, and many homeowners choose filtration systems to reduce these compounds at the tap.
4) Water Quality Highlights
Routine testing also identified the following substances:
- Barium: 0.0074 mg/L
- Chromium: 0.7 µg/L
- Nitrate: 0.234 mg/L
- Lead: Highest reported value 2.5 µg/L
- Copper: Highest reported value 0.239 mg/L
- PFOS: 0.64 ng/L
- Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs): Average 52.5 ppb
- Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): Average 46.0 ppb
While routine monitoring provides valuable insight into local water quality, many homeowners choose water softeners, reverse osmosis systems, or whole house filtration to reduce treatment byproducts, improve taste, and address contaminants identified during testing.
Items of Interest
Common Tap Water Issues in Oneonta, New York
Routine testing identified several naturally occurring minerals, treatment-related byproducts, and emerging contaminants in Oneonta’s water supply. While these results help utilities monitor water quality, many homeowners choose treatment systems to reduce chlorine taste, disinfection byproducts, PFAS, and other contaminants that may affect drinking water quality over time.
Chlorine
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 4.0
Public Health Goal: N/A
Concerns: Cancer, Poor Taste and Smell
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Nitrate
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 10
Public Health Goal: 10
Concerns: Cancer, cardiovascular issues, skin lesions
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Fluoride
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 4 mg/L
Public Health Goal: 4 mg/L
Concerns: Overexposure may contribute to dental or skeletal fluorosis.
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
Potential Concerns
Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts in Oneonta, New York
Disinfection is used to protect drinking water from harmful microorganisms. During this treatment process, chlorine can react with naturally occurring organic matter to form disinfection byproducts such as haloacetic acids (HAA5) and total trihalomethanes (TTHMs).
HAA5
EPA Max. Contaminant Level (MCL): 60 ppb
Public Health Goal: 0
Concerns: Cancer
Removal: Water Softeners, Whole House Water Filters
TTHM
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 80 ppb
Public Health Goal: 0
Concerns: Cancer
Removal: Whole House Water Filters, Reverse Osmosis Water Filters,
Natural and Emerging Contaminants
Additional Water Quality Monitoring in Oneonta, New York
Routine monitoring also identified several naturally occurring minerals and metals. While these contaminants are commonly monitored by public water systems, some homeowners choose additional filtration based on their household water quality goals.
Barium
EPA Max. Contaminant Level (MCL): 2.0 mg/L
Public Health Goal: 2.0 mg/L
Concerns: High Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Effects
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Filters
Chromium
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 100 µg/L
Public Health Goal: 100 µg/L
Concerns: Liver, kidney, and circulatory system effects following long-term exposure
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Filters
Lead
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 15 pCi/L
Public Health Goal: 0
Concerns: Can affect brain development, learning, behavior, and the nervous system, especially in infants and young children.
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
Copper
New York Maximum Contaminant Level: 1.3 mg/L
Public Health Goal: 1.3 mg/L
Concerns: Cancer, Liver and Kidney Effects
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
Forever Chemicals
PFAS Contaminants in Oneonta, NY
Oneonta monitored for PFAS compounds as part of its water quality testing. PFAS are man-made chemicals that persist in the environment and are being studied because of their potential long-term health effects. While only one PFAS compound was reported, many homeowners choose reverse osmosis systems to reduce these contaminants from drinking water.
PFOS
EPA Max. Contaminant Level (MCL): 4 ppt
Public Health Goal: 0
Concerns: Long-term exposure has been linked to immune system effects, developmental concerns, increased cholesterol, and certain cancers.
Removal: Whole House PFAS Filters, Reverse Osmosis Filters
Water Quality Report Insights
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Does Oneonta’s Drinking Water Come From?
Oneonta receives drinking water from Wilber Lake, the Lower Reservoir, and the Catella Park Well.
Does Oneonta Add Chlorine?
Yes. Chlorine is used during treatment to disinfect drinking water before it reaches homes.
Were PFAS Found in Oneonta’s Drinking Water?
Yes. Routine monitoring identified PFOS during water quality testing.
What Are TTHMs?
TTHMs are disinfection byproducts that form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic material in water.
What Are Haloacetic Acids?
Haloacetic acids are another type of chlorination byproduct commonly monitored in public drinking water systems.
Does Oneonta Add Fluoride?
Yes. Fluoride is added as part of the City’s water treatment process.
Should I Consider Filtering My Drinking Water?
Many homeowners install water treatment systems to reduce chlorine taste, PFAS, disinfection byproducts, and other contaminants while improving overall drinking water quality.
Can Reverse Osmosis Remove PFAS?
Reverse osmosis systems are commonly used to reduce PFAS, lead, nitrate, and many other contaminants from drinking water.
Where Can I Get a Local Water Quality Report?
The City of Oneonta publishes an annual Water Quality Report for residents. You can also schedule a free in-home water test with Culligan to better understand your home’s water quality.
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