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Drinking Water

Elmsford has Westchester's Best Water on Tap

There are 100 community public water suppliers in Westchester County. If you have questions about your drinking water, you should contact your water supplier. Find your water supplier here.

Residents who would like to arrange testing to determine whether their own pipes or solder are leaching lead into their drinking water may contact their water supplier to ask whether the supplier will provide testing. If this is not available, residents can identify a certified commercial lab and arrange testing by using this NYSDOH search tool.

Westchester County Health Department regulates the quality of public drinking water. Each public water supplier routinely tests the drinking water and provides water test results reports for review by the health department. In addition, the health department regularly conducts spot checks of public water supplies and collects water samples for testing.

Recently you may have heard more about PFAS as being a contaminate found in drinking water supplies.  For more information on this go to our PFAS information page.

When the water quality is compromised, the health department may issue a water use advisory. The most common water use advisory is a boil water alert issued for a water main break or other event. After corrective actions have been taken, the water pressure has been restored and satisfactory water sample test results are available for the affected area, the department alerts residents that the water is safe to drink.

Approximately 6% of Westchester County residents are served by private wells.  In Westchester County, private wells must be tested upon the sale of the property, for leased property and prior to the use of water from new wells, in accordance with the Private Well Water Testing Law. The parameters tested include bacteria (total coliform); chloride; nitrate; pH; some heavy metals; and organics. Ongoing testing is required for leased property at least once every five years. 

While not required by law, homeowners are advised to take special precautions to ensure the protection and maintenance of their drinking water supplies and to test their water periodically. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommends that private water supplies be tested annually for nitrate and coliform bacteria to detect contamination problems early, or more frequently, if you suspect a problem.  For more information, please visit the USEPA website.

Resources:

  1. Drinking Water: What You Need to Know (EPA)
  2. Find your drinking water supplier
  3. Basic Information about Drinking Water Standards and Regulations (EPA)