DRINKING WATER WARNING
Sampling shows elevated lead levels in some homes and/or buildings.
The Village of Delhi Water System found elevated levels, of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings.
We may also have tested your home or building. If we did, you should receive or may have already received these
results. These results are specific to your home/building and may be different from the results taken in other
locations. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read
this information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water.
What is an Action Level?
The lead action level is a measure of the effectiveness of the corrosion control treatment in water systems.
The action level is not a standard for establishing a safe level of lead in a home. To check if corrosion control is
working, EPA requires water systems to test for lead at the tap in homes or buildings that are likely to have
elevated levels of lead, including those with lead service lines. We compare sample results from those
homes/buildings to NYS and federal action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb). If 10 percent of the samples from these
homes have water concentrations that are greater than the action level, then the system must perform actions such
as public education, adjusting treatment, and lead service line replacement.
What Happened?
Between August 2026 and September 2026, we collected 20 samples and analyzed them for lead. The results of
more than 10 percent of our samples exceeded the action level for lead.
The Village of Delhi Water System is focused on protecting the health of every household in our community;
however, lead from service lines and lead plumbing and fixtures can dissolve or break off into water and end up at
the faucet. We found that lead service lines and lead in plumbing are potential sources of lead in your drinking
water. This does not mean that every property that receives drinking water from the Village of Delhi Water
System has lead in the drinking water. It does mean that you should understand how to reduce your exposure to
lead through water. Keep in mind that drinking water is not the only potential source of lead exposure, since lead
can be found in air, soil, and paint. For more information on all sources of lead, visit https://www.epa.gov/lead.
Health Effects of Lead
*Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can
have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or
exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or
during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart
disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.*
Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Exposure to Lead in Your Water
Below are recommended actions that you may take, separately or in combination, if you are concerned about lead
in your drinking water. The list also includes where you may find more information and is not intended to be a
complete list or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead from drinking water.
- Use your filter properly. Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, it should be
certified to remove lead. Read any directions provided with the filter to learn how to properly install,
maintain, and use your cartridge and when to replace it. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make
it less effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter. For more information on facts
and advice on home water filtration systems, visit EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-
and-drinking-water/home-drinking-water-filtration-fact-sheet and EPA’s Consumer Tool for Identifying
Drinking Water Filters Certified to Reduce Lead. - Clean your aerator. Regularly remove and clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator).
Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator,
lead can get into your water. - Use cold water. Do not use hot water from the tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula as lead
dissolves more easily into hot water. Boiling water does not remove lead from water. - Run your water. The more time water has been sitting in your home’s pipes, the more lead it may
contain. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or
doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead
service line or not, as well as the length and diameter of the service line and the amount of plumbing in
your home. Residents may contact us at (607) 746-2258 for recommendations about flushing times in
their community. - Learn what your service line material is. Contact us at (607) 746-2258 or a licensed plumber to
determine if the pipe that connects your home to the water main (called a service line) is made from lead,
galvanized, or other materials. To find out about what we are doing to replace lead service lines, contact
us at (607) 746-2258. Protect Your Tap: A quick check for lead is EPA’s on-line step by step guide to
learn how to find lead pipes in your home. - Learn about construction in your neighborhood. Contact us at (607) 746-2258 to find out about any
construction or maintenance work that could disturb your service line. Construction may cause more lead
to be released from a lead service line if present.
Get Your Child Tested to Determine Lead Levels in His or Her Blood
A family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide information about the health effects
of lead. State, city, or county departments of health can also provide information about how you can have your
child's blood tested for lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that public
health actions be initiated when the level of lead in a child’s blood is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL) or
more. For more information and links to CDC’s website, please visit https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-
drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water.
What is Being Done?
The actions that we are taking are following Federal and State lead and copper regulations listed below.
In addition to the information mentioned above that we will provide to residents at locations we sampled, we will
also be following up with additional public education to all our customers by November 29, 2026.
The Village of Delhi Water System balances water chemistry at the treatment plant to minimize pipe and
plumbing components from corroding and leading to the possibility of lead dissolving into water. This process is
known as corrosion control. We are completing an assessment of the corrosion control treatment currently used by
our water system.
We are removing the lead service lines, which is a common source of lead in drinking water. This will be
completed by the end of 2028.
- We also plan to take the following steps:
- We are conducting additional lead and/or water quality monitoring of our water system supply.
- We are increasing our lead monitoring to determine the extent of the situation.
*Call us at (607) 746-2258 or visit our website https://villageofdelhiny.gov/. For more information on lead in
drinking water, contact your local health department at (607) 432-3911 or odo@health.ny.gov, or the New York
State Department of Health directly by calling the toll-free number (within New York State) 1-800-458-1158,
extension 27650, or out of state at (518) 402-7650, or by email at bpwsp@health.ny.gov. General guidelines on
ways to lessen the risk from lead in drinking water are available from EPA’s website
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water.*
*Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have
received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can
do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.*
This notice is being sent to you by the Village of Delhi Water System
State Public Water System (PWS) ID#: NY1200257
Date distributed: September 15, 2026
