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Kathleen Cuddy, MPH Public Health Director Cayuga County Health Department 8 Dill St. Auburn, NY 13021 For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 Low Levels of Toxins Continue to be detected in the City of Auburn’s Raw Water Results from samples collected on Monday, September 17, 2018 from the City of Auburn’s raw water have been received early this evening (9/18/2018) and reveal low levels of toxins associated with harmful algal blooms in the raw (untreated) water entering the City of Auburn’s treatment plant from Owasco Lake. The treatment system at the City of Auburn continues to successfully remove the toxins and no toxins were detected in the samples taken of the treated drinking water. • Low levels of toxins are being referred to as such a small amount of toxins that the laboratory could detect them, but could not give a numeric value. • The City of Auburn provides drinking water to residents in the City of Auburn, the Towns of Aurelius, Fleming Water District 6, Throop, Mentz, Brutus, Montezuma, Sennett, Springport Water District 2, and the Villages of Port Byron, Weedsport, and Cayuga. The Town of Owasco, also uses Owasco Lake water for drinking water purposes. Results from samples collected on Monday, September 17, 2018 of both the raw (untreated) water and the treated drinking water have been received early this evening (9/18/2018) and no toxins were detected in either sample. It is important to note that the City of Auburn and Town of Owasco have two separate intake pipes located in two different spots of Owasco Lake. As a reminder, the Cayuga County Health Department has been sampling and monitoring the drinking water for the City of Auburn and Town of Owasco since early August and will continue to do so. Sample results can be found by clicking on the Harmful Algal Blooms tab on our homepage at www.cayugacounty.us/health. The Health Department will not continue to issue press releases on toxins in the raw water entering the City of Auburn treatment plant as long as the treatment system continues to effectively remove the toxin detected. Should there be a change in conditions we will be sure to notify and update the public. If you have any questions, please call the Health Department at [PHONE REDACTED].