Requires monitoring by DEC of water contamination throughout the state and notification of such contamination by the department of health

3 Co-sponsors

• Brad Hoylman-Sigal
• Liz Krueger
• Velmanette Montgomery

BILL NUMBER:S3747

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law and the public health law, in relation to monitoring and notifying residents of the state of water contamination

Purpose or general idea of bill

With billions of gallons of untreated sewage being released into New York's waters each year, it is crucial to pass a strong monitoring and notification law that informs the public about the duality of our waterways, particularly with respect to pollution from sewage.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one: The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 15-0319. Study of water contamination; Contamination levels must he recorded over a one year period, starting 60 days after the passage of this law. The data shall be used by the Department of Environmental Conservation to create a predictive model, detailing levels of pollution in different parts of the state at various points during the year.

The Department of Environmental Conservation shall continue to collect and analyze the data after the one year period is over. The Department of Environmental Conservation may perform the data collection and analysis in conjunction with county departments of health and any other municipalities and agencies.

The data, collected by the Department of Environmental Conservation, shall be shared with the Department of State which shall use existing communications system to notify the public on an ongoing basis about the levels of contamination in the water. The data shall be available in a systemic and regional specific manner.

The Department of Environmental Conservation in conjunction with Department of Health shall establish a coding system that delineates levels of contamination in the water. The Department of State shall use this system to issue constant updates on New York's water quality to notify New Yorkers in the event levels of toxins in the water become dangerous.

Section two: The public health law is amended by adding a new section 224-c. Water quality information; The public health and health planning council shall provide constant updates to residents of the state regarding the quality of water throughout the state using information received by the department of environmental conservation, pursuant to section 15-0319 of the environmental conservation law.

Justification

Bodies of water around the state must be monitored in an ongoing basis by the Department of Environmental Conservation. We have come to except storm warnings, amber alerts, traffic alerts, bail water alerts, and even pollen warnings. A monitoring and alert system is needed to inform the public when our oceans, lakes, rivers, aquifers, and other bodies of water become contaminated with sewage. Currently.

New York State does not have an appropriate monitoring and reporting system in place to Protect the public from polluted waters. At recently in the summer of 2011, there have been incidents where New Yorkers have unwittingly come into contact with polluted waters. Information about potential health risks must be available to the public. In addition to having regular updates on water contamination levels, it's important that there be special alerts notifying the public.

Instead of a patchwork of notification systems, that often vary by localities, a uniform system that capitalizes on systems already present at the Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of State will benefit New Yorkers and help enhance protections for their health and the environment.

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect 60 days after becoming law.