Ulster County residents with private wells can now apply for free PFAS testing and, if contamination is found, rebates to help cover the cost of treatment systems through a new state pilot program.
The Private Well PFAS Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program makes eligible property owners and some tenants eligible for free testing for PFAS, a class of man-made chemicals often known as “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly in the environment.
If test results show PFOA, PFOS, or other PFAS at or above the state standard of 10 parts per trillion, applicants may qualify for rebates to install a whole-house PFAS treatment system. Property owners may also apply for help connecting to a public water supply where that is practical, or for certified point-of-use systems where whole-house treatment is not feasible.
The program offers rebates of up to $5,000 for whole-house treatment systems, up to $10,000 for connections to public water, and up to $1,000 for point-of-use systems.
“Our department has heard from many residents who are understandably concerned about PFAS in their drinking water,” Ulster County Public Health Director Eve Walter said in a statement. “This pilot program gives private well users access to testing and financial support that would otherwise be out of reach for many households. We’re committed to helping residents navigate the process.”
The program arrives as PFAS contamination has drawn growing attention in Ulster County. In Saugerties, for example, state testing in 2019 found PFAS contamination in private wells near the closed town landfill, and 62 households there still rely on bottled water while the state studies a permanent solution.
Property owners may apply for free testing, and tenants may also apply if they provide a notarized acknowledgment from the property owner. Businesses with transient, non-community water systems, including parks, rest stops, convenience stores, and restaurants with their own wells, may also qualify. Wells already covered by an existing remediation program tied to a known contamination site are not eligible.
The announcement also follows Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent allocation of $250 million for water infrastructure projects across New York.
That funding included $5 million for PFAS treatment at the Village of Williston Park’s Syracuse Street facility on Long Island. In the Hudson Valley, the City of Poughkeepsie was awarded $31.6 million to replace 766 lead service lines, and Westchester Joint Water Works received $30 million for construction of the Rye Lake Water Filtration Plant.
“Communities are working hard to upgrade aging water infrastructure and protect public health, and I’m committed to providing them with the resources they need to succeed,” Hochul said in a statement. “With this $250 million investment, we’re making vital projects affordable and ensuring New Yorkers can trust the water they rely on every day.”
Ulster County is one of six counties participating in the pilot program, which is led by the New York State Department of Health, Department of Environmental Conservation, and Environmental Facilities Corporation. Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Suffolk, and Westchester counties are also included.
State officials have said those counties face elevated risk for PFAS contamination, though Ulster’s inclusion reflects concern about private well users here as well.
Funding for the Ulster County program is limited, and application periods may open and close depending on demand.
Applications are available at health.ny.gov/PrivateWellPFAS. Paper applications can also be found on the program website under “Documents.” Rebate applications must be submitted after mitigation work is completed.
Questions about the program can be directed to the hotline at 1-800-616-9275, by email at PrivateWellPFAS@hrpassociates.com, or through the program website. For local help navigating the application process, residents can call the Ulster County Department of Health at (845) 340-3022.
Mia Quick is an editorial assistant at The Overlook. Send correspondence to mia@theoverlooknews.com.