Sewage Pollution Right to Know Regulations Finalized

Clean water is a must, whether it is drinking water or the water you and your kids bathe or swim in. Knowing the quality of your water, and when there is a problem with that quality, is information everyone needs to have. As with most things, the sooner you have that information, the better.

The New York Department of Environemental Conservation, has announced the final Sewage Pollution Right to Know Act. Under this act, publicly owned treatment works and publicly owned sewer systems are required to notify the DEC within two hours of a sewage discharge. These final regulations will make it easier for municipalities to do that.

The DEC has partnered with the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to enhance the electronic NY-Alert notification system so that reporting is free of charge to municipalities. They can get the word out to residents quickly by way of text messages, emails and/or telephone calls,and to keep them informed about sewage overflows.

Here's how you can sign up for these alerts.