Monitoring drinking water quality is a shared responsibility among public water systems, residents, consumers, and our department, which provides oversight and routine monitoring to help ensure safe drinking water countywide.
To assure the safety of your drinking water, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Dutchess County Department of Health (DC DOH) manages many programs to monitor and assess water quality to identify emerging situations, assure pollution control programs are working, and respond to emergencies such as floods, spills, or contamination.
The responsibility to monitor drinking water quality rests with the public water system, and you, the individual consumer.
Our staff works with more than 630 public water suppliers and operators to ensure compliance with New York State (NYS ) Part 5 drinking water regulations. Some systems require oversight by a NYS Certified Water Operator.
We routinely sample public water systems for bacteria, inorganic and organic compounds, and other regulated contaminants. To learn how often your water is tested, contact your water system (listed on your bill) or call us at 845 486 3404.
When a violation is found, the water system must notify customers. For contaminants posing an immediate health risk, notice must be issued within 24 hours with corrective steps and any need for alternative water. Less urgent violations must be communicated within 30 days, through the next bill, Annual Water Quality Report, or a mailed notice. Violations also appear in EPA’s SDWIS database.
Community water systems must issue Annual Water Quality Reports by May 31st. Review these reports to stay informed. If you don’t receive one, contact your supplier or call us at 845 486 3404.
Private well water quality is not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, nor by New York State or DCDOH. Because groundwater contamination can occur, well owners should test their water regularly and maintain their wells to protect their families’ drinking water. New York State’s Test Your Well guide outlines recommended testing practices.
The EPA’s publication Drinking Water from Household Wells is a valuable guide to learn more about how to maintain and safeguard your well water, offering basic steps to protect your well water:
DC DOH can also help you learn what your water quality results mean and how you can address any quality issues you may have. You can call us at 845-486-3404.
Find a Water Testing Laboratory near you.
Some local municipalities have local laws that require well testing during real estate transactions. We coordinate with these towns to post test results on the County website and notify residents of results that may pose a public health impact. View more information and testing results.
Accidental releases of petroleum, chemicals, gases, and other hazardous materials can occur, and even small spills can threaten public health and contaminate groundwater, surface water, and soil.
Report environmental releases to the NYS Spill Hotline at 1 800 457 7362 or the National Response Center at 1 800 424 8802.
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation investigates spill reports through its Spill Response Program and acts based on the material released, potential environmental damage, and public safety risks. DEC notifies DCDOH of spills so we can assess any impact on public water systems.
DEC’s Division of Environmental Remediation provides a searchable database of chemical and petroleum spill incidents and cleanup sites.
Dutchess County has received funds from New York State to participate in NYS Private Well Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program to improve water quality. The program offers limited, free private well testing and rebates for PFAS water treatment. Please Contact NYS Department of Health about Well Water PFAS Testing.
Contact us about PFAS Mitigation Rebate Applications
Additional Resources:
In Dutchess County, wastewater from private homes is treated by onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) or centralized wastewater treatment systems. These systems are privately owned or publicly owned and, after treatment, either discharge to groundwater or surface water.
Residents wishing to connect a new home (or replacement) to centralized water and wastewater systems will need to make application to connect with the owner of said centralized water and wastewater systems. No additional approval is required by the DC DOH.
Residents wishing to install a new septic system and/or well to serve a new home (or replacement) will need to demonstrate to the local building department that there is a valid DC DOH design approval for the OWTS and/or well.
Residents wishing to add a bedroom or an accessory dwelling to an existing home served by an OWTS must either demonstrate to the local building Department that the existing OWTS has a valid DC DOH approval that includes the increase in use, or that there is a valid DC DOH design approval for an expansion of the existing OWTS for the increase in use.
DC DOH has processes in place for obtaining DC DOH approval for repairing/replacing existing OWTS that serve existing residential homes.
For information on design standards for OWTS, see below guidance from Dutchess County & New York State:
A septic system will serve a home for a long time if it is properly located, designed, constructed and maintained. DC DOH recommends that septic tanks be inspected and pumped regularly by a NYS certified septage hauler.
The DC DOH investigates reports of sewage failure from residential onsite wastewater treatment systems and conducts enforcement.
If you suspect a failing septic system, contact us at 845-486-3404 or email at ehs@dutchessny.gov.
