When it comes to the air we breathe, there may be some cause for alarm.

The American Lung Association grades some New York counties on air quality.

St. Lawrence County received top marks.

But Jefferson County got a failing grade.

Those "grades" are based off measurements of ozone pollution and particle pollution.

Jefferson County has some of the highest ozone pollutions ratings in the state.

Scientists believe the pollution comes from winds blowing from the west.

Ozone in the air makes it more difficult to breathe.

Children and the elderly are most at risk.

Meanwhile, if you live in Watertown, chances are you've gotten a letter from the city about the quality of your water supply.

The Water Department said it tests for contaminants and the level of one particular chemical was higher than allowed by the state and federal governments.

I''ve been the water superintendent for 25 years, just about 25 years now, and this is the first exceedance we've had of any maximum contaminant level," said Gary Pilon, the city water superintendent.

The city is required to test for the disinfection byproducts, trihalomethanes and halocetic acids, on a quarterly basis.

If the running annual average exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL), a violation has occurred.

That's exactly what happened with the trihalomethanes and halocetic acids.

The running annual average after the last round of testing was 62 parts per billion. 

The legal limit is 60 parts per billion.

According to the city, some studies of people who drank chlorinated drinking water for 20 to 30 years show that long term exposure to disinfection by-products (possibly including haloacetic acids) is associated with an increased risk for certain types of cancer. 

However, how long and how frequently people actually drank the water as well as how much haloacetic acids the water contained is not known.

"We are safe...This is not an emergency...It's a right-to-know type of thing more than anything else because the law says you have the right to know as a customer of our water supply," said Pilon.

Pilon said there's no need to boil your water or take any other action.

He said he was optimistic the contaminant level would be at or below the legal limit when the city samples the water supply next month.

Share Your Thoughts for Your Turn

Read the Letter from the City

News Release about Ozone