Dutchess County
Comprehensive Countywide Private Well Testing Initiative

-  Dutchess County Private Well Testing Report (.pdf)
-  View All Private Well Water Test Results
- Press Release

County Executive William R. Steinhaus launched the Dutchess County Comprehensive Private Well Testing Initiative on September 6, 2007.  The goal of this project was to collect information about Dutchess County private well water source quality that serve single-family, owner-occupied residences. To implement the first phase of this multi-phased initiative, volunteers were recruited over a four week enrollment period. From the pool of applicants, 125 wells that serve single-family, owner occupied residences were randomly selected. A private contract laboratory collected and analyzed water samples for bacteria, organic, and inorganic chemicals.

The second phase of this multi-phased initiative, which began in the fall of 2008, was carried out in a similar manner as Phase I. One hundred and twenty-five wells serving single-family, owner-occupied residences were randomly selected from the original pool of applicants used for the first phase of the initiative. The same private contract laboratory collected and analyzed water samples for bacteria, organic, and inorganic chemicals. The findings from Phase II mirrored the results of Phase I and are summarized below:

Summary of Results:

1. Sodium was the most common analyte detected. The Health Department recommends that water containing more than 20 milligrams per liter of sodium not be used for drinking by people on severely restricted sodium diets. Water containing more than 270 milligrams per liter of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on moderately restricted sodium diets.
   
   
2. Total coliform was the second most common analyte detected. The presence of coliform bacteria suggests that the wells were either poorly constructed, poorly maintained or under the influence of sewage or surface water. The Health Department does not recommend that water with coliform bacteria be used for drinking or cooking purposes until the supply is adequately disinfected and re-tested.
   
   
3. There were no exceedances above the maximum contaminant levels for organic chemical compounds, although there were some minor detects, at or below the laboratory detection limit of 0.5 parts per billion.
   
   

Many people and agencies contributed to the successful implementation of this new initiative, which was led by the Dutchess County Department of Health (DCDOH). The Environmental Health Services (EHS) division of the DCDOH coordinated the project. The Public Health Information, Planning, and Education (PHIPE) division, including their GIS Coordinator, as well as the County’s Office of Computer and Information Systems (OCIS), Department of Planning and Development, and the Water and Wastewater Authority all actively contributed to this effort.  Smith Laboratory, Hyde Park, New York, was selected to conduct the water sampling and analysis.