CICERO, N.Y. — The Onondaga County Water Authority announced encouraging news regarding the repair of its water system in Cicero on Wednesday.
The OCWA said more than half of the new pipe is currently installed in the work zone. It said that its crews are making significant progress with dewatering, excavation, the removal of the old pipe and the installation of the new pipe.
Still, the OCWA is mandating that people conserve water. The water authority has been ordering residents in the affected towns of Dewitt, Manlius, Pompey, Lenox, Lincoln, and Sullivan to conserve their water since Dec. 22, 2025. The villages of Canastota, Chittenango, East Syracuse, Fayetteville, Manlius, and Minoa are also affected by the mandate.
“We appreciate your continued water conservation efforts,” the OCWA said. “Please keep it up! As we move closer to repair completion, it remains crucial for residents in affected areas to conserve in order to ensure that water keeps flowing to everyone!”
The good news is that the OCWA said that the efforts have been working. County officials reported on Jan. 8 that the east reservoir water levels have risen to 30% capacity thanks to the community’s help. That’s around 10% higher than when the conservation mandate was declared.
It went into effect after repairs to the pipe on Dec. 18, 2025, caused the pressure in the system drop, forcing OCWA to shut it down.
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The OCWA estimates that repairs on the pipe will be fully completed on Jan. 16.