After water main break, OCWA urging some Central New Yorkers to limit water use

Posted: Dec 20, 2025 / 05:52 PM EST

Updated: Dec 21, 2025 / 12:42 PM EST

(WSYR-TV) — A major break in a water main is pushing OCWA, the local water authority, to urge customers in some Central New York towns to conserve their water use.

The towns, which are east of Syracuse and south of Oneida Lake, include Manlius, Pompey, De Witt, Sullivan, Lenox and Lincoln. This area includes the villages of Fayetteville and Chittenango. The leaking main takes Lake Ontario water from a pump station in Clay to reservoirs in the area.

OCWA crews expect the repair to take up to a week. Chris Burtis, a company spokesperson, said that some customers may see reduced water pressure in the coming week.

In the meantime, OCWA customers in the affected area should take shorter showers, turn off the faucet when not in use, use water-saving settings in appliances, and reuse water when possible.