Basically, there are five ways of bringing water sources into one’s home:

1. Drilled wells. These are the safest wells for several reasons. They are drilled into the aquifer and sealed so there is less chance of contamination. The tops of the wells are raised above ground and have a sanitary seal further protecting them.
2. Below-grade well pits. These are wells in an underground pit. These wells may not have a proper sanitary seal at the top and adequate drainage. As a result, water can enter the pit, stagnate or sit, and lead to bacterial contamination of your drinking water.
3. Hand dug wells. These wells are in a shallow pit with a pump at the bottom. These do not have any sanitary seal. The result is little to no barriers to contamination.
4. The final private water source is water taken directly from a lake. This method is uncommon. It affords no barrier of protection from the possible pathogens or contaminants present in untreated surface water. Possible contaminants include waterborne parasites, bacteria, and harmful chemicals. These occur in older seasonal homes or previously seasonal, converted homes.
5. Public water source: In New York, any system with at least 5 service connections or that regularly serves an average of at least 25 people daily for at least 60 days out of the year is considered a public water system. In New York state, local health departments, such as PCDOH, have regulatory oversight of public water sources.

If you are in a residential neighborhood with no source of contamination within 100 feet of your well, you should probably only need to test for bacteria. Especially shallow wells (less than 100 feet deep) may be affected by seasonal changes and may be prone to bacterial contamination. Twice a year, coliform bacteria should be checked. Lists of local laboratories are available by calling (845) 808-1390. If you have concerns about nearby sources of contamination that may affect your well, contact the Putnam County Health Department.

All private and municipal water companies that serve five or more homes are required to conduct all testing required by Subpart 5-1 of the New York State Sanitary Code. This includes bacteria, volatile organic compounds, metals and inorganics, pesticides, radiological parameters, lead and copper, etc. The County Health Department monitors results and requires corrective action and notifications.

The health department’s role varies depending on the type of water supply. For private wells, the PCDOH has jurisdiction only when the well is drilled. Before drilling begins, a permit must be obtained through the PCDOH. As part of the application process the well’s location is approved based upon New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) requirements. These relate to separation distances from contamination sources and well construction standards. When the well becomes operational, the health department can serve as an important resource to advise residents about what to test for, how frequently, what the results mean, and possible treatment options if needed.

The most important substances to test for are bacteria, nitrates, and lead. Bacteria levels impact everyone and immune-compromised individuals may be at even greater risk. Nitrates and lead are of particular concern in households with esting for iron, manganese, and sodium is also recommended. Sodium may be an issue for those on a low-sodium diet.

The NYSDOH Fact Sheet on Individual Water Supply Wells recommends testing for the contaminants below. The fact sheet, which also lists the acceptable maximum contaminant levels or MCLs, is available here:  https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/regulations/fact_sheets/docs/fs3_water_quality.pdf

• Arsenic
• Chloride
• Coliform bacteria
• Lead
• Nitrate
• Nitrite
• Iron
• Manganese
• Iron plus manganese
• Turbidity
• Sulfate
• pH
• Hardness
• Alkalinity
• Sodium

Yes. If you decide to get your private well water tested at a lab, the PCDOH will help you interpret the results. In this way, you gain a better understanding of what the results indicate, and if any action is recommended, what your options are. The PCDOH is here to be a resource to the residents of the County. A list of NYS certified laboratories that can perform testing is posted on the health department website.

Although the PCDOH does not regulate private wells, NYSDOH’s highly protective public drinking water standards can be used as guidance to reduce exposure from private well water contamination. People are exposed to PFAS mainly by drinking water and foods prepared with contaminated water. Based on current NYSDOH public water supply guidance for PFAS, people can continue to use the water as they have been with levels between 10ppt and 70ppt. However, once the levels exceed 70ppt, the recommendations are that people should not drink or prepare food with the water. Boiling is not an option since it is only effective for killing bacteria. Because exposure risk is low without ingestion, people can still use this water to shower, wash dishes and do laundry.

More general information is available here: “Test Your Well—Protect Your Family’s Water”

Most cases of bacterial contamination are from surface runoff getting into the well because of a broken sanitary seal, pit with no seal, broken casing, etc. If the well construction is adequate and bacterial contamination still persists, the well should be disinfected with chlorine using a procedure available at the County Health Department. Seasonal variations in the groundwater table may require that wells be disinfected annually. A permanent method of disinfection that can be employed if bacteria problems persist is the installation of an ultraviolet light.

It is important to always follow manufacturer’s guidelines. Filters are commonly available and need to be changed according to schedule. Test your water regularly. At this time, used filters can be disposed of in the regular trash.

• Make sure to use all cleaning products properly and according to manufacturer’s directions. Proper application of all products, including spray products, is important.
• Dispose of chemicals properly because both improper use and disposal can affect your water supply. Eventually anything that is used can affect the water supply.

The PCDOH hosts two Household Hazardous Waste Days annually to help residents dispose of many chemicals and other hazardous wastes. The department also participates in Medication Take Back Days to keep these hazardous items out of the environment. Information for both of these events can be found at putnamcountyny.com/health/recycle.

Visit the Public Access Portal under “Land Records” on Putnam County Clerk Office webpage. With simply a tax map number, information about private wells is now available without a Freedom of Information (FOIL) request.

The direct link is: https://putnamcountyny.gov/county-clerk?view=article&id=244&catid=14

You can also check with your Town's Building Inspector.

The majority of wells in Putnam County are deep rock wells. Salts from the minerals in the rock which are not harmful to drink may leave a film or powdery deposits on dishes and pots. These are salts that form from the minerals in the rock. Water softeners may help solve this problem, but there are no guarantees.

If you pour a glass of water and it looks white or sudsy, let it sit a few minutes. The white color will gradually disappear, leaving clear water. Sometimes too much air is dissolved into the water as it leaves your pressure tank. If you get your water from a water supplier, an excessive amount of air may be added by booster pumps in the system. Don’t be concerned unless the pressure is less than adequate.

The “rotten egg” smell of sulfur can be caused by two sources. The most common is iron bacteria which thrive in the iron-rich well water, giving off sulfur dioxide. This problem can be solved by disinfecting your well using the procedure available at the County Health Department. The less common source for sulfur smell in water is from wells that are drilled into sulfur deposits in the rock. This problem can be solved by installing available treatment systems.

PFAS stands for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are a group of chemicals used to make coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. PFAS are a group of contaminants that has only been studied for the past decade. However, it has been in our environment for much longer. It's in Teflon, and items that are water or oil resistant. It has been in use for approximately half a century, and now it has gotten into the water cycle and in some places into the water table. This problem is widespread.

In 2020, the NYSDOH adopted an MCL of 10ppt (parts per trillion). This provided an added level of protection—significantly below the existing EPA advisory level of 70ppt at the time. Required testing of regulated water supplies began at the end of 2020. Levels detected varied throughout the county, and no results were over the EPA advisory level of 70ppt. As more research is done and information becomes available, it is possible these levels may change.

Yes. If you decide to get your private well water tested at a lab, the PCDOH will help you interpret the results. In this way, you gain a better understanding of what the results indicate, and if any action is recommended, what your options are. The PCDOH is here to be a resource to the residents of the County. A list of NYS certified laboratories that can perform testing is posted on the health department website.

Although the PCDOH does not regulate private wells, NYSDOH’s highly protective public drinking water standards can be used as guidance to reduce exposure from private well water contamination. People are exposed to PFAS mainly by drinking water and foods prepared with contaminated water. Based on current NYSDOH public water supply guidance for PFAS, people can continue to use the water as they have been with levels between 10ppt and 70ppt. However, once the levels exceed 70ppt, the recommendations are that people should not drink or prepare food with the water. Boiling is not an option since it is only effective for killing bacteria. Because exposure risk is low without ingestion, people can still use this water to shower, wash dishes and do laundry.

More general information is available here: “Test Your Well—Protect Your Family’s Water”

The truth is, we are all responsible. PFAS are present throughout our environment because of its widespread use over decades.

When a private well needs mitigation, it is typically the homeowner's responsibility. PFAS is widespread in Putnam County, as it is across New York State and nationally. At certain preexisting contamination sites, the NYSDEC and the NYSDOH have sampled for PFAS. In these instances, multiple agencies work together to help address the problem and provide ongoing monitoring and evaluation and if needed, treatment.

Water filtration units that use granulated activated carbon (GAC) and reverse osmosis filters (RO) are the most effective at removing PFAS contaminants. There are several options for filtration: a whole-house filter, a point-of-use filter, or a charcoal filter pitcher. When installing or using these products, look for an NFS/ANSI rating of 53. The website www.NSF.org  provides a way to search many devices that can be installed and the contaminants each removes. Maintaining the device according to the all the manufacturer’s recommendations is a must, whichever one you choose. More information on effective ways to remove PFAS can also be found on the NYSDOH site here: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/pou/

If your neighbor takes a water sample and the sample results are high, that does not mean yours will be high as well. The type and depth of an individual well are also important factors.

Likewise, if a nearby public water supply has a contaminant, this does not mean it will affect an individual’s home well. PFAS contamination needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Problems that can cause contamination can arise in the individual’s home well or plumbing.

Any renovation which involves a modification of an existing floor plan or any additions which increase the square footage of living area require approval by the Putnam County Health Department prior to the issuance of a building permit.

Part of all Health Department approvals for Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (SSTS) is the calculation of the potential occupancy of the residence. This is determined by the number of potential bedrooms within the structure. Floor plans for renovations or additions must be reviewed to ensure the total number of potential bedrooms are the same as the original certificate of occupancy.

If the number of potential bedrooms will increase, the Subsurface Sewage Treatment System must be designed by a professional engineer or registered architect, meeting all present code requirements. The plans must be reviewed and approved prior to the issuance of a building a permit.

Any room which could potentially be used as a bedroom may be considered a bedroom by the Department. For example, an office, den, computer room, exercise room and possibly a family room may be considered potential bedrooms. The location of the proposed room is a major factor in this consideration. For example, an office on a second story with other bedrooms will always be considered a potential bedroom.

No. The Department will review non-professional sketches of the proposed floor plans.

Yes. The fee for Health Department review is $100.

In some cases, yes. If there is a full bath in the basement area, any room located in this area may be considered a potential bedroom. Traditionally, open recreational rooms in basement areas are not considered potential bedrooms.

In most cases, you will be required to hire a professional engineer to design a Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS). The addition of an accessory apartment is considered to be a “change in use”, as well as an increase in potential occupancy. The addition of a second kitchen and possibly an additional washing machine may increase the potential flow to the existing septic system.

Applications are available at the Putnam County Health Department, 1 Geneva Road, Brewster, New York 10509. Call (845) 808-1390. You may also pick up an application at the individual Town Building Departments. Generally, review can be completed in less than one week.