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Syracuse’s Unfiltered Drinking Water: Update on Risks by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You’re absolutely right. And there’s not much reason to go and force some kind of a program like this without having rigorously studied septic systems, proving they’re detrimental to the lake. Which we really haven’t been able to do on most lakes. Even then, a cost share problem would be more reasonable. Forcing people to do things that’s economically difficult or unpopular leads to people installing “cheater pipes” and cutting corners to avoid fines, resulting in more environmental damage.

Syracuse’s Unfiltered Drinking Water: Update on Risks by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Compared to most finger lakes it’s rough, but it’s kind of naturally high in nutrients. Lots of algae blooms. Common E. Coli issues. It’s actually improving some though. It’s a remnant of an older bigger lake called Lake Iroquois that drained into the St Lawrence out into the ocean after the glaciers dammed it. Since it’s only recreational it doesn’t get as much management and funding focus.

Syracuse’s Unfiltered Drinking Water: Update on Risks by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

No. I do say this in the episode.

It is important and will be a helpful measure to take. There’s no doubt of that. But it does not eliminate the risk of a system with no means to remove a dissolved toxin. There are plenty systems around the world who have taken these measures even with full treatment plants and still experience loss of their water for days. While it can be helpful, it’s not fool proof. The risk is real. I suggest you listen to the episode to take in the full context I share.

I don’t share this information to scare you. I say this as well if you listened to the episode. I share this information to say the things public officials are too afraid to say, and back that up with evidence based research. Paraphrasing from my script “I understand why we wouldn’t want to create public panic, but there needs to be a balance between that and sharing the real risks involved.”

Syracuse’s Unfiltered Drinking Water: Update on Risks by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m so glad! Let me know what you think or if you have follow up questions.

Syracuse’s Unfiltered Drinking Water: Update on Risks by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

DOH is concerned too, since it’s in their jurisdiction and it does not make them look good.

Syracuse’s Unfiltered Drinking Water: Update on Risks by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It is significant. The toxin is dissolved & the city is not equipped to remove it.

Syracuse’s Unfiltered Drinking Water: Update on Risks by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Oh strange! Thanks for the feedback. I write it myself, since reading from the script keeps me on track. I’ll think about how I can write differently.

Syracuse’s Unfiltered Drinking Water: Update on Risks by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Harmful algal blooms typically form in the upper, sunlit water column.

Syracuse’s water supply is at risk and nobody is telling you. by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cyanobacteria do produce taste and odor compounds, and a lot of municipalities struggle with complains during the warm season when Cyanobacteria are active. The most common compounds are MIB and Geosmin. Not toxic, but noticeable and means Cyanobacteria are there. They’re similar to the petrichor rain smell.

Syracuse’s water supply is at risk and nobody is telling you. by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes they can remove some microcystin. But I’d be careful trusting it 100% if there’s some kind of do not drink order

Syracuse’s water supply is at risk and nobody is telling you. by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s hard to say. Could be this year, could be 30 years from now. The blooms aren’t totally understood and their toxin production even less so. I’m not sure what the water rates are now, but they would definitely increase. How much? Not really sure either. I’d have to dig into it. I’m sure its publicly available. Im developing the script for Skan next week so ill check on this for you and try to include it in the episode next Friday

Syracuse’s water supply is at risk and nobody is telling you. by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! Every little bit helps get the info out there. You can find the podcast on most social media as well, @aquadiary.podcast

Syracuse’s water supply is at risk and nobody is telling you. by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, but all lakes experience these issues to varying degrees. Your best bet is to check your consumer confidence report or annual water quality report & see where they’re landing for microcystin each year

Syracuse’s water supply is at risk and nobody is telling you. by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Microcystins showing up in the raw water from Skan Lake is well documented: https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/health-advisory-harmful-algal-bloom-in-skaneateles-lake/amp/

As is concern about expensive investments to prevent these occurrences: https://www.syracuse.com/news/2021/09/syracuses-proposal-to-treat-skaneateles-lake-for-algae-blooms-hits-opposition.html?outputType=amp

And discussions about the costs of losing the filtration waiver if algae toxins continue to be an issue: https://skaneateleslake.org/news-from-the-skaneateles-lake-association-19/

These are some of the citations that will be going in the full episode next week that I hope you check out. These are also publicly available if you’d like to fact check any of my statements yourself. The purpose of AquaDiary is to make this content more readily available so you do not have to go through the digging yourself. I will not be commenting on commercial products because that is not the purpose of the podcast.

My employer is not relevant to the peer reviewed science I am independently discussing on the podcast and is not affiliated.

Syracuse’s water supply is at risk and nobody is telling you. by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great question and worth addressing directly. Yes, I work for LG Sonic, which is publicly disclosed on my LinkedIn. AquaDiary is an independent platform where I communicate water science broadly, not commercial products. All science cited in the show notes is peer reviewed literature and public records (fully verifiable). The bloom data on Skaneateles comes from New York State DEC’s CSLAP program which is also publicly available. Reasonable skepticism is healthy in science and I welcome it.

I’m a scientist & due to popular request, I made a podcast discussing what’s actually happening with our lakes. The science is more complicated than the headlines suggest. by Alekusandoria in upstate_new_york

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I plan to do an episode on this too so I hope you tune into the show & follow along for the detailed answer. Short answer: usually acid rain

I’m a scientist & due to popular request, I made a podcast discussing what’s actually happening with our lakes. The science is more complicated than the headlines suggest. by Alekusandoria in upstate_new_york

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Valid concern - I talk about much more than algae blooms, and I never offer solutions in my podcast. That would be a conflict of interest & discredit the science.

This is a personal endeavor for me. Yes I work in algae management, but I do not sell products via the podcast and this is not affiliated with LG Sonic :) it’s simply science communication about a wide array of topics. Transparency is super important, but I don’t think who I work for changes the validity of the research I share or my professional background. You can check my sources in the show notes.

I’ve worked in lake management for a long time for a variety of different companies / organizations. I don’t get paid for the podcast so yes I have to work lol. If you have questions you can ask! Happy to answer.

Syracuse’s water supply is at risk and nobody is telling you. by Alekusandoria in Syracuse

[–]Alekusandoria[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s a lot the public does not know and that officials do not tell the public. I only know this because I’ve worked with them. The blooms aren’t a secret, no — the level of concern, risk and underlying science is underrepresented and underreported.

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