Dewitt WDS - South

To comply with State and Federal regulations, the Town of DeWitt Water Department annually issues a comprehensive report detailing the quality of your municipal water. This report aims to inform customers about our water program and raise awareness about water quality and conservation needs.

The report includes last year's water quality overview, information about water sources, composition, and how it compares to State standards. If you have questions about this report or your municipal water, please contact Mathew Reynolds, DeWitt Water Superintendent, at (315) 446-3734x158.

We encourage you to stay informed about your water and conservation methods. Visit our office at 5400 Butternut Drive for more information. Details about the Town of DeWitt can also be found on our website, www.townofdewitt.com, which includes information about the town and links to water suppliers.

The Town of DeWitt operates as a purchase distribution system - Dewitt Northern Federal ID # NY3316112 and Dewitt South Federal ID # NY3304343.

Water Quality - Safety Assurance
All municipal water, including bottled water, may contain small amounts of certain contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the EPA establishes national limits on contaminant levels called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) to ensure water safety.

For some contaminants with unreliable or costly monitoring methods, the EPA sets treatment technique requirements instead. Every regulation includes requirements to notify the public of violations. Water suppliers must also monitor for unregulated contaminants to provide data for future regulations.

The EPA has established regulations for 142 individual contaminants, including microbiological pollutants, radionuclides, inorganic chemicals, and organic chemicals. The SDWA requires regular review and revision of regulations, with consideration of at least 5 new contaminants every 5 years.

In New York, the State Health Department enforces EPA regulations, with options to implement stricter standards. In Onondaga County, primary enforcement and surveillance are delegated to the County Health Department, which reviews treatment plant modifications and monitors operational data.

Water Testing and Monitoring
The Authority's New York State certified water quality laboratory collects over 4,000 distribution system samples and 2,000 treatment plant samples annually, performing more than 12,000 analyses. Independent laboratories conduct approximately 600 additional analyses.

In 2017, there was one Treatment Technique violation to report for water purchased from Syracuse. On January 11th, 2017, sustained winds caused turbidity in Skaneateles Lake water to exceed allowable levels, reaching 7.08 NTU. Otherwise, water quality met all health department standards with no Maximum Contaminant Level violations.

System Facts and Figures
The Town of DeWitt serves approximately 25,000 residents through 8,204 accounts, including 7,039 residential, 872 commercial, 12 industrial, 12 municipal, 3 fire departments, and 266 fire sprinkler systems. Not all areas within town boundaries receive DeWitt water service, as Southwood, parts of Jamesville, and an area west of Thompson Road are served by Onondaga County Water Authority.

In 2017, the town purchased 875,061,000 gallons from Onondaga County Water Authority and 233,306,500 gallons from Syracuse City, at a total cost of $2,403,962.66. The three Fire Departments used 508,000 gallons (valued at $2,421.85) at no charge. Approximately 87% of purchased water was sold through metered sales, with the remainder attributed to leakage, firefighting, street cleaning, and municipal use.

1. How can I set up my account for computerized payments/autopay? To set up an automated or routine payment, please register with the web payment processor and configure automatic recurring payments through a bank account or credit card. Streamline ACH Form
2. Can I make a payment over the telephone? Yes. Please call 844-329-9562 to pay via phone. Payment Options
3. How do I add/remove my name from a utility account if I sold/bought my residence? If you acquired or sold your property using a local title company, they will process the ownership change and final bill payment. Without a local agency, the City requires the new owner to provide written proof of ownership or legal right to the property.
4. Why is my usage so high? Multiple factors can contribute to higher than normal usage, including potential leaks (check for dripping faucets, running toilets), summer irrigation needs, and other seasonal factors. For concerns about billing errors, contact Utility Billing at (970) 375-5034.
5. What is the Special Pick-up fee on my bill? These charges appear when additional pick-ups were requested or when trash containers were overfilled. Consider upgrading to a larger container size if yours is consistently overfilled.
6. Why is the owner's name listed on my account online? The system displays the property owner's name rather than the billing name. As long as the account information is correct, payment credits will be properly applied.
7. How do I upgrade/downgrade the size of my trash can? Contact the Sustainability Services Department at (970) 375-5004 to request container size changes.
8. How can I check the balance of my utility account online? Currently, you can view your current balance by accessing the utility online payment screen and entering your account number. Historical information is not available online.
9. What is the average water usage? Individual water consumption averages 80-100 gallons per day (2,000-3,000 gallons monthly). A typical family of four uses approximately 350 gallons daily (8,000-10,000 gallons monthly).