Environmental Services Fee Schedule
Q. How can I find out more about my drinking water quality?
A. Public water supply customers can contact their local utility and request a copy of the Annual Water Quality Report (or Consumer Confidence Report). This report is a summary of the water test results obtained by the utility for the previous year. This report lists the following:
- The name of the contaminant(s) that were detected
- The range or average amount of each contaminant that was detected
- The MCL or Maximum Contaminant Level established by state or federal law for that contaminant
- The potential source of each contaminant
Q. What is a Maximum Contaminant Level? How does that differ from a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal?
A. The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is the maximum amount of a particular contaminant that is allowed in public drinking water. Water suppliers must notify their customers if a contaminant exceeds the MCL.
The Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant in drinking water at which there is no known or anticipated health threat from that contaminant to a person who consumes the water.
Q. Where does lead come from in my drinking water?
A. Most lead in drinking water supplies leaches from the plumbing in our homes, including lead service lines, lead-based solder (used to join copper plumbing), and faucets. To reduce your exposure to lead, make sure to flush your pipes for several seconds before using the water for drinking or cooking.
Q. Where can I obtain further information on the health effects of contaminants that may be harmful to me?
A. You can contact your local or state public health department, personal physician, or the EPA's safe drinking water hotline at (800) 426-4791 for further information on the health effects and potential sources of the various contaminants found in drinking water supplies.
Q. Where can I find out more information about home water treatment devices?
A. NSF International is the leading not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization that tests home water treatment products on the market today. NSF evaluates water treatment devices to ensure the following:
- The product meets structural integrity requirements
- The product is constructed of materials that do not leach harmful contaminants into the water being treated
- The product does reduce the contaminants claimed by the manufacturer
- To assist consumers in obtaining a better understanding of these devices, NSF provides online information in the drinking water section of its consumer Web site, nsf.org.
We offer several testing packages for the private well owner. From a basic bacteriological analysis to a more comprehensive set of analyses.
These custom analysis packages are designed around the most common analytical requests received from clients. It should be noted, however, that no amount of testing will guarantee the absolute safety of your drinking water. What is required, is a thorough understanding of the circumstances affecting your source water.
Both the EPA and CDC have an exceptional wealth of information on Drinking Water Quality information at their Web sites.
Well Water Package A is based upon the recommendations of the Westchester County Health Department and is modeled after the parameters required under Westchester County’s Well Law:
| Lead – First Draw & Flush | Coliform, Presence/Absence | Volatile Organic Compounds |
| Nitrates | Manganese | pH |
| Arsenic | Nitrites | Chloride |
| Sodium | Iron |
Well Water Package B is based upon the recommendations of the New York State Department of Health and includes the following parameters:
| Heterotrophic Plate Count | Coliform, Presence/Absence | Turbidity |
| Nitrites | Nitrates | pH |
| Alkalinity | Hardness | Manganese |
| Calcium | Sodium | Magnesium |
| Iron | Lead |
Contact us to learn more about having your water tested.
The Health Department provides further information about a local law requiring the testing of private well-water systems upon the sale of property and for leased properties within the County of Westchester.
Radiochemistry Services currently performed on-site include Uranium analysis on Potable and Non-Potable matrices. Analysis for Gross Alpha, Gross Beta, Radium-226, Radium-228, and Tritium are currently available as subcontracted analyses.
Why is it important to monitor for Radionuclides?
Completely avoiding radioactivity is impossible. Radionuclides are found in air, water, soil, and even living things. People are exposed to background levels of radiation all the time. Radionuclides generally enter drinking water through erosion or chemical weathering of naturally occurring mineral deposits, although human activity (such as mining, industrial activities, or military activities that use or produce man-made radioactive materials) can also contribute to their presence in water.
Evidence suggests that long-term exposure to radionuclides in drinking water may cause cancer. In addition, long-term exposure to uranium has toxic effects as a heavy metal as much as its effect as a radionuclide. EPA recently created "RadTown USA", a new Web site that uses an animated town to provide basic information on radiation in the environment. "RadTown USA" is a virtual community showing the wide variety of radiation sources commonly encountered in everyday life.
Types of samples accepted for analysis
- Drinking water (Well & Public Supply)
- Raw water (Lakes, Streams, Ponds, Rivers)
- Estuarine water
- Wastewater (Influent & Effluent)
Services for organic chemistry include gas and liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses of volatile and semi-volatile compounds utilizing over 25 analytical methods to identify and quantitate more than 400 organic compounds including
- PCB's
- Herbicides
- Pesticides
- Volatile organics including gasoline
These compounds could be present in areas where there is industry, agriculture, small businesses, and service stations.
Types of samples accepted for analysis:
- Drinking Water (well & public supply)
- Raw Water (lakes, streams, ponds, rivers)
- Wastewater
- Soils & Solids
- Hazardous waste