Two Syracuse Department of Water workers have been placed on leave pending an investigation into the improper administration of residential water sampling, which "may explain the elevated levels of lead in those samples," Chief Policy Officer Greg Loh said in a statement released Thursday afternoon. 

"As part of an ongoing review, the City of Syracuse Department of Water has determined some water samples collected at homes with lead services in the first half of 2024 were administered improperly by department employees," Loh said, adding that "required sampling protocols were not followed." 

He did not identify the two department employees who he said have been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.

Earlier this month, national and state environmental and civil liberty groups, as well as CNY doctors and activists, publicly demanded an emergency response in Syracuse to what they called a drinking water safety crisis caused by extraordinary levels of lead detected in city water.

The New York Civil Liberties Union responded to the latest developments on Friday.

“The city’s explanation for the extraordinary high level of lead in our water raises more questions than answers,” said Lanessa Owens-Chaplin, director of the NYCLU Racial Justice Center. “Addressing lead poisoning is a racial justice imperative, as Syracuse's Black residents bear the brunt of this public health crisis. Instead of deflecting blame, we urge our leaders to take urgent action to ensure all Syracuse residents have access to clean and safe drinking water, and we won’t stop fighting until this is a reality.”

More than 74,000 Onondaga County Water Authority customers expected to receive letters in the coming days telling them if their water service lines contain lead, according to the authority.