A "perfect storm" has led to water issues in the city of Syracuse, according to officials.

The city's water commissioner says problems like weather and a sharp increase in water main breaks have the city using 5 million gallons a day more than usual. At a public works meeting earlier this week, Commissioner Robert Brandt said fluctuating temperatures and high snow totals have led to 119 water main breaks this year, nearly double the amount compared to this time in 2024.

So while the department is working to catch up, the commissioner also noted a shortage of staff as another issue making things difficult, as well as as-of-yet-unknown breaks.

"I just believe there's a large number of leaks that we don't know that are underground, and we're trying to find them all," Brandt told city councilors this week. "Could there be a big break somewhere that we don't know? Absolutely. But that's why we brought extra help to try and figure that out for us."