Last October the Times Union ran a story with the sensational headline: “Saratoga Springs residents find excessive lead, turbidity in city water.”
Two homeowners on Saddle Brook Road reported their water had elevated levels of lead after having it privately tested. They also reported discolored water.
The New York State Department of Health responded to an inquiry by the Times Union regarding the homes as follows:
“The department was made aware of elevated lead levels in the drinking water samples collected from two homes on Saddle Brook Drive in Saratoga Springs. Although the city remains in compliance with current standards, the department, through its Glens Falls district office, is working with the homeowners to troubleshoot potential sources of lead within their homes.”
New York State Department of Health
A careful reading of this text strongly suggests that the problem was not with the city’s water but with the local lines and plumbing associated with the homes.
Dillon Moran who unsuccessfully ran against Department of Public Works Commissioner Skip Scirocco in 2019 and apparently plans to run again this November, is quoted in the article as follows:
“For a city known for its water, this troubles me.Lead levels should be zero. This affects human health and it’s not reversible. Quite frankly, there is a problem here.
Dillon Moran
Subsequently, on social media Joanne Yepsen advised people that they should not be drinking city water. Pat Kane alleged his dogs’ muzzles had become discolored from drinking city water.
Now the New York State Department of Health has written to the city stating that it has completed its analysis of water samples taken on Saddle Brook Drive, and they have reconfirmed that the city is in compliance with Federal and State water quality standards.
The letter confirms that the city will continue to flush the area monthly. The letter also notes that the sodium level exceeds 20 milligrams per litre (mg/l) . The letter notes that salt levels of greater than 20 “should not be used for drinking by people on severely restricted sodium diets.”
Unfortunately the issue of excessive salt in public drinking water is a fairly common problem due to the use of salt on roads that migrates into sources of drinking water. It is, however, not a violation of the water quality requirements.
Saratoga Springs Politics 
thank you
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Older homes, with older plumbing, such as lead pipes or pipes with lead solder, may have low levels of lead in their water. To say that our city water has lead in it, is simply an inflammatory political statement.
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