Village of Fonda Water Works
Lead & Drinking Water
Understanding the Issue. Reducing Exposure. Replacing Lead Infrastructure.
October 2026
Current Drinking Water Notice
Recent required drinking-water monitoring resulted in a Lead Action Level Exceedance for the Village of Fonda public water system.
During September 2026, the Village collected 10 required samples. Two of the 10 samples exceeded the current lead Action Level.
September 2026 Monitoring Results
10
Samples Collected
2
Samples Above Action Level
15.7 ppb
90th-Percentile Result
15 ppb
Applicable Action Level
An Action Level Exceedance does not mean that every home or building served by the Village has elevated lead. It also does not mean that the Village's entire water supply is experiencing a widespread lead contamination event.
The Action Level is a regulatory measure used to evaluate the effectiveness of corrosion control and determine when additional actions are required. The exceedance requires the Village to take additional actions, including public education, additional monitoring, evaluation of corrosion control and other measures required by State and federal drinking-water regulations.
Protecting Our Drinking Water
Lead in Drinking Water
Lead in drinking water is a national infrastructure and public-health issue that communities across the United States are working to address.
Unlike many contaminants, lead generally does not originate in the source water or at the water treatment plant. Lead can enter drinking water after treatment when water comes into contact with plumbing materials containing lead.
Potential sources can include lead service lines connecting properties to the water main, galvanized service lines that were or may have been connected to lead, solder, faucets, fixtures and other plumbing components.
The Village of Fonda is working to identify these materials, reduce potential lead exposure, evaluate corrosion-control treatment, comply with State and federal requirements, and develop a long-term strategy for replacing lead and other service lines requiring replacement.
Our Objective
Lead Exposure Should Be Taken Seriously
Lead exposure can cause serious health effects, particularly for infants, young children and pregnant women.
The Village encourages residents to review the official health information and exposure-reduction recommendations provided by the New York State Department of Health and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Where Does the Lead Come From?
Lead in drinking water generally comes from plumbing materials rather than the raw-water source itself.
Water leaving the Village Water Works is treated before entering the public distribution system. Lead may enter drinking water later when the treated water comes into contact with plumbing materials containing lead.
Potential Sources of Lead
- Lead service lines
- Certain galvanized service lines
- Interior plumbing
- Lead-containing solder
- Faucets
- Fixtures
- Valves and fittings
- Other plumbing components containing lead
About the September 2026 Results
Where a property has a lead service line, the service line can be a significant source of lead in drinking water.
Based upon information currently available to the Village, the Village does not believe the public water distribution mains themselves are the source of the elevated lead detected during the September 2026 sampling.
However, the exact location of lead-containing materials has not yet been fully determined for every service connection.
How Water Travels from the Treatment Plant to Your Tap
Treated water can encounter lead-containing plumbing materials after leaving the Water Works.
Water Works
Treatment & filtration
Village Water Main
Public distribution main
Service Line
Connects main to property
Interior Plumbing
Inside the building
Your Tap
Faucet or fixture
Lead service lines and lead-containing plumbing materials can introduce lead into drinking water after treatment — not at the Water Works.
Understanding the Service Line
A water service line is the pipe connecting a property to the Village water distribution main.
Under the Village's current arrangement, the portion extending from the water main to the curb stop is generally maintained by the Village, while the portion extending from the curb stop into the home or building is generally the responsibility of the property owner. Responsibility may depend upon the circumstances.
Identifying Lead Service Lines
Knowing What Is Underground
One of the most important steps in addressing lead service lines is determining what material each service line is made from.
That sounds simple, but in older communities it can be challenging. Water service lines are underground, and many were installed decades ago. Historical records may be incomplete, property plumbing may have changed over time, and portions of a service line may not be visible without inspection or excavation.
For that reason, a service-line inventory should be understood as a living record that becomes more complete as additional information is verified. The Village of Fonda has been working to identify the material of service lines throughout the public water system and will continue refining that information as additional lines can be verified.
Unknown Does Not Mean Lead
An “unknown” service line is a line whose material has not yet been conclusively identified using the information currently available.
It does not automatically mean that the service line is made of lead.
It also should not automatically be classified as non-lead until its material can be properly verified.
The purpose of the inventory process is to reduce the number of unknowns over time by gathering and verifying better information.
Fonda’s Service Line Inventory
At the time reflected in the Village’s inventory, Fonda’s public water system contained 476 service lines. The Village had identified the material classification of 320 service lines, while 156 remained classified as unknown.
476
Total Service Lines
320
Identified Service Lines
156
Unknown Service Lines
56
Known Lead Service Lines
44
Galvanized Requiring Replacement
220
Non-Lead Service Lines
Among the identified service lines, the inventory reported:
- 56 known lead service lines
- 44 galvanized service lines requiring replacement
- 220 non-lead service lines
56 + 44 + 220 = 320 identified lines. 320 identified + 156 unknown = 476 total lines. These numbers represent the Village’s inventory based upon the information available and verified at the time the inventory was prepared. The inventory is not intended to remain static — as additional service-line materials are verified, classifications can be updated and the number of unknown lines can be reduced.
What These Numbers Do — and Do Not — Tell Us
The inventory tells us what the Village has been able to identify about service-line materials.
It does not mean that every unknown line is lead. It does not mean that every non-lead line eliminates every possible source of lead within a building. And it does not mean that a known lead service line by itself tells us the amount of lead, if any, that will be measured in water at a particular faucet.
Service-line identification, water-quality monitoring, corrosion control, resident education and eventual replacement of lead-containing infrastructure are related but different parts of the Village’s overall lead-reduction effort.
Why Can a Service Line Be Unknown?
Service lines can be difficult to identify because much of the infrastructure is underground and may have been installed or modified many years ago.
Depending upon the property, identification may involve:
- Historical records
- Field inspections
- Visual inspection of accessible portions of the service line
- Information supplied by a property owner with appropriate verification
- Excavation when necessary
- Other approved identification methods
No single method necessarily answers every question at every property. The Village uses available records and physical information to classify lines and continues updating the inventory when additional verified information becomes available.
How Is Fonda Identifying Service Lines?
Historical Records
Reviewing available records that may provide information about the material originally installed.
Field Inspection
Examining accessible portions of service lines and plumbing where the material can be observed and identified.
Customer Information with Verification
Information from property owners can assist the identification process when the service-line material can be appropriately documented or verified.
Excavation
In some circumstances, physical excavation can provide direct confirmation of the service-line material.
Why Don’t We Just Dig Up Every Line?
Because service lines are underground, physically exposing every line simply to identify its material would require extensive excavation on public and private property and could involve significant cost and disruption.
Instead, service-line identification uses available records, inspections and other verification methods, with physical investigation used where appropriate. The goal is to develop reliable information while continuing to improve the inventory as additional evidence becomes available.
A Service Line Has More Than One Part
The Village’s inventory evaluates service-line material on both the public water-system side and the customer side. This is important because the material may not necessarily be the same along the entire route from the water main to the building.
A service line should therefore not be described simply by what can be seen at one accessible location unless that information is sufficient to establish the applicable classification.
Water Main
Public-Side Service Line
Curb Stop
Customer-Side Service Line
Building Plumbing
Faucet
Service Line Responsibility
The portion of the service line from the water main to the curb stop is generally maintained by the Village. The portion from the curb stop into the home or building is generally the responsibility of the property owner.
An Inventory Is a Starting Point
The service-line inventory is an important tool, but identifying the lines is only one part of addressing lead in drinking water. The inventory helps the Village:
- Identify known lead service lines
- Identify galvanized lines requiring replacement
- Document known non-lead lines
- Identify locations where more information is needed
- Prioritize future verification
- Plan for service-line replacement
- Develop engineering and cost information
- Pursue available State and federal financial assistance
As the inventory becomes more complete, it can help guide the Village’s long-term replacement strategy.
What If My Service Line Is Listed as Unknown?
An unknown classification does not mean that your service line has been determined to contain lead. It means that the material has not yet been conclusively identified.
Residents should continue following the drinking-water guidance provided by the Village and appropriate public-health agencies while the Village continues its identification, monitoring and lead-reduction efforts.
Residents who have information about their service line or questions about its classification should contact the Village.
Helping Us Identify Service Lines
Property owners can sometimes help the Village improve its inventory. If a resident has reliable information about a service line — including documentation, photographs of accessible portions, information from prior plumbing work, or other relevant records — that information may assist the Village in determining or verifying the service-line material.
Information provided by a property owner may still require verification before the Village can change the official classification.
View the Inventory Summary
Summary of Lead Service Line Inventory
Village of Fonda — Public Water System ID: NY2800138
This document provides a summary of the Village’s service-line inventory, including identified lead, galvanized requiring replacement, non-lead and unknown service lines and the methods used to identify service-line materials.
A National Effort to Remove Lead Service Lines
Communities throughout the United States are confronting legacy lead infrastructure installed generations ago.
The federal Lead and Copper Rule has regulated lead and copper in public drinking-water systems since 1991. Federal requirements have continued to evolve as more has been learned about lead exposure and the importance of identifying and replacing lead service lines.
EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements strengthen requirements involving:
- Service-line inventories
- Identification of unknown service lines
- Lead and galvanized service-line replacement
- Drinking-water sampling
- Corrosion control
- Public education
- Customer notification
- Exposure-reduction measures
- Replacement planning
The long-term direction nationally is toward identification and full replacement of lead service lines and galvanized service lines requiring replacement.
New York State — Identification, Replacement & Funding
New York State has established programs to help communities identify and replace lead service lines.
The New York State Department of Health oversees public drinking-water requirements and provides information concerning lead in drinking water, service-line identification, exposure reduction and lead service-line replacement.
New York's Lead Service Line Replacement Program supports the replacement of the entire residential lead service line — from the municipal water main to the residence — in participating funded communities.
State and federal infrastructure programs can provide financial assistance for eligible lead service-line inventory and replacement projects.
What the Village Has Already Done
The Village's work did not begin with the October 2026 notification.
As part of State and federal drinking-water requirements, the Village completed an inventory of water service lines throughout the community.
The inventory identified service lines in categories that include:
Lead
Galvanized Requiring Replacement
Non-Lead
Unknown Material
The inventory process uses available records, historical information, field observations and other available methods to determine service-line materials.
Some service lines remain classified as unknown because sufficient information is not yet available to conclusively determine their material. The Village will continue working to improve the accuracy of the inventory as additional information becomes available.
What Are We Doing Now?
Additional Monitoring
The Village is conducting additional lead and/or water-quality monitoring as required and will continue evaluating sampling results.
Corrosion-Control Review
Fonda Water Works currently manages water chemistry to reduce corrosion of pipes and plumbing materials. The Village is evaluating its existing corrosion-control treatment and exploring available options for reducing the potential for lead to enter drinking water from plumbing materials.
Service-Line Inventory
The Village will continue identifying known, suspected and unknown service-line materials. A reliable inventory is essential for developing an effective replacement program.
Public Information
The Village will continue providing required notices, educational information and updates to water customers. Residents should have access to both the testing information and the actions being taken in response.
Long-Term Replacement Planning
Identification alone does not remove lead infrastructure. The Village must develop a practical program for replacing lead and galvanized service lines requiring replacement.
- Engineering
- Verification of service-line materials
- Construction planning
- Property access
- Coordination with property owners
- Street and property restoration
- Project administration
- Regulatory compliance
- Funding
Pursuing Financial Assistance
The cost of replacing lead service lines is one of the most significant challenges facing communities and property owners. The Village recognizes that simply identifying a lead service line does not solve the problem if the cost of replacement is beyond the financial ability of the municipality or property owner. The Village is actively working with the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) and exploring other State and federal funding sources that may provide grants, financing or other financial assistance for eligible lead service-line work. Our goal is to pursue every reasonable funding opportunity available to help reduce the financial burden on both the Village and individual water users. Funding is not guaranteed, and eligibility and available assistance will depend upon the requirements of individual programs. As funding opportunities and replacement programs become available, the Village will provide additional information to affected property owners.
The Challenge — Replacing an Entire Service Line
Lead service-line replacement can involve much more than replacing a short piece of pipe.
Depending upon the property, work can involve:
- Excavation
- Street or sidewalk restoration
- Curb and lawn restoration
- Plumbing work
- Work on both public and private property
- Engineering
- Inspection
- Traffic control
- Coordination with other underground utilities
- Property access
- Project administration
The cost can vary significantly from one property to another. For a small community, replacing numerous service lines can represent a substantial financial obligation. This is why identifying outside funding is an important part of the Village's strategy.
The objective is not simply to comply with a mandate. The objective is to remove lead-containing infrastructure in a financially responsible way that protects public health without unnecessarily shifting the entire cost to individual water customers.
Full Service-Line Replacement
Modern lead-service-line programs increasingly emphasize replacement of the entire lead service line rather than leaving a lead portion in service.
Where applicable, this means addressing both the public and private portions of the service connection. This is another reason coordination with property owners and financial assistance are important.
What You Can Do Now
Steps residents can take to reduce potential lead exposure while the Village works on long-term solutions.
Boiling water does NOT remove lead.
Run Your Water
If water has been sitting in household plumbing, flushing can help reduce potential exposure. See the complete official guidance for flushing recommendations.
Use Cold Water
Use cold tap water for drinking, cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not use hot tap water for these purposes.
Boiling water does NOT remove lead.
Clean Your Faucet Aerator
Periodically remove and clean faucet aerators because sediment and particles can collect there.
Consider a Certified Filter
Residents concerned about lead may consider a filter certified to reduce lead. See EPA and NSF information concerning filters certified for lead reduction.
EPA — Filters That Remove LeadLearn Your Service-Line Material
Residents should learn whether the service line serving their property is lead, galvanized, non-lead or unknown. Contact the Village with questions.
Consider Water Testing
Residents with lead-containing plumbing or other concerns may wish to have their drinking water tested. Contact the Village or your local health department for guidance.
Child Blood-Lead Testing
Parents or guardians concerned about lead exposure should contact their health-care provider or appropriate public-health agency concerning blood-lead testing.
Questions? Contact the Village.
Village of Fonda8 E. Main Street, P.O. Box 447Fonda, New York 12068
518-853-4335
villageclerk@villageoffonda.ny.gov
What Does "Action Level" Mean?
An Action Level is a regulatory threshold used to evaluate the effectiveness of corrosion-control treatment and determine when a public water system must take additional actions.
It is not a declaration that every property in the water system has the same lead concentration. Lead sampling is conducted at selected customer taps according to regulatory requirements. Results from those locations are used to calculate the system's regulatory result.
September 2026 Monitoring Period
10
Samples Collected
2
Samples Above 15 ppb
15.7 ppb
90th-Percentile Result
15 ppb
Applicable Action Level
The result triggered additional regulatory actions by the Village.
Drinking-Water Rules Are Changing
EPA finalized strengthened Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) that will change future requirements, including a lower lead action level and stronger service-line replacement requirements.
These future compliance requirements are distinct from the 15 ppb Action Level applicable to the Village's September 2026 monitoring result.
Current — October 2026 Notice
15 ppb action level applicable to this monitoring event.
Future LCRI Requirements
Stronger requirements are being phased in under federal regulation. Consult current EPA guidance for effective and compliance dates.
Official Documents
October 2, 2026
Village of Fonda Drinking Water Warning
October 2, 2026
Required public information concerning the September 2026 lead monitoring results, the Lead Action Level Exceedance, health information, steps residents can take to reduce potential exposure, and actions being taken by the Village.
Village of Fonda Public Notice Regarding Lead Testing Results
October 2, 2026
Village information explaining the September 2026 monitoring results, what the Action Level Exceedance means, the Village’s response, service-line information, and additional resources for residents.
Summary of Lead Service Line Inventory
Village of Fonda — Public Water System ID: NY2800138
Summary of the Village’s service-line inventory, including identified lead, galvanized requiring replacement, non-lead and unknown service lines and the methods used to identify service-line materials.
Learn More from Official Sources
New York State Department of Health
Lead in Drinking Water
VisitNew York State
Lead Service Line Replacement Program
VisitNew York State Environmental Facilities Corporation
Drinking Water Infrastructure Funding
VisitU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Basic Information About Lead in Drinking Water
VisitU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Lead Service Lines
VisitU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Lead and Copper Rule
VisitOur Progress
Updates will be posted as additional information becomes available.
Future updates may include: service lines identified, unknown lines verified, engineering completed, funding applications submitted, funding awarded, replacement projects approved, service lines replaced, corrosion-control improvements, additional monitoring results and resident information sessions.
Stay Informed
This will be a continuing effort. The Village will update this page as additional testing is completed, service-line information is verified, funding opportunities are pursued and future replacement projects are developed.
Residents are encouraged to return to this page for current information.
Fonda, New York 12068
518-853-4335
villageclerk@villageoffonda.ny.gov