Drinking Water Protection Program
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Explore resources dedicated to providing safe, quality drinking water to New Yorkers. Find out about programs that manage, protect and help fund New York’s public drinking water systems supplying nearly 95% of residents with drinking water. Learn how to reduce exposure to drinking water contaminants, and maintain and safeguard household wells and septic systems. Professionals can seek training opportunities, infrastructure financing and documents essential to public water system care and maintenance. Learn ways New York makes every effort to protect public drinking water.
Your Drinking Water
The Department of Health oversees the delivery of drinking water to ensure that it is suitable for people to drink. To assure the safety of drinking water in New York, the Department of Health in cooperation with county health departments, regulates the operation, design and quality of public water supplies and commercial bottled water suppliers.
- Public Water - Frequently Asked Questions, Facts and Figures, Annual Water Compliance Reports
- Contact Your Drinking Water System
- Drinking Water Concerns - Testing Your Water, Local Activities, Lead in Drinking Water, Roadside Springs, Concerns about Surface Waters
- Private Wells
- Find a Certfied Lab
Water Supply Professionals
Learn about and review New York State drinking water regulations and programs, how to become a Certified Water Operator, and get important information on financial incentives to improve drinking water infrastructure.
- Training/Certification
- Guidance and Forms
- Financing - Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), Infrastructure Needs of New York State
- Additional information for water supply profesionals
Protecting Drinking Water
New York State is commited to protecting drinking water. As part of this commitment, inter-agency collaborations and programs have been established to oversee the continued health and safety of public water consumption.
- Drinking Water Quality Council provides recommendations to the New York State Department of Health on emerging contaminants in drinking water.
- Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2)
- Additional Public Health & Water Protection Programs - Source Water Delineations, Assessments, and Protection
- Drinking Water Response Activities to Address Local Water Supply Concerns
- Additional information on protecting drinking water
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Protecting your family, yourself and others from potentially contaminated drinking water takes some thought and effort. Questions from residents and homeowners about how to do this often arise during a boil water event. The following pages provide answers to some questions you may have. In the event that a "Do Not Use" notice is issued, additional precautions will be needed, contact your local Health Department for guidance.
