2/20/2025
WT Staff
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February 20, 2025 1116 am EST
Drinking water quality in Allegany County
Allegany County residents are among the first in line for fresh water supply, stationed right at the beginning of surface water flow heading in three cardinal directions. The advantage of being situated in the upper end of any surface water run is that there has been less opportunity for industry and municipal populations to contaminate the downstream water supply. Allegany County is unique in this way, being the only county in NYS at the head of the drinking water line, not in one watershed, but three major drainage basins. Residents of Allegany County are privileged to be first in 11,800 square mile Allegheny River basin, first in the 2500 square mile Genesee River basin, also first in the 27,500 square mile Susquehanna River basin.
The point of origin for the triplet basins is a Pennsylvania peak known as Triple Divide, 2523 ft above sea level in the Allegheny Mountains of Potter County, PA. The Allegheny Plateau is farmed; agriculture is the main industry impacting surface water quality coming into Allegany County.
Bolivar, Genesee, Clarksville and west Cuba Townships fall into the west flowing Allegheny River watershed. Central Allegany County surface water is part of the Genesee River watershed, flowing north to Rochester and out into Lake Ontario. The northeast quarter of Allegany County is part of the Susquehanna River basin, including Alfred and east Ward, Almond and east Burns Townships.
Safe Drinking Water Advisories
Oneida County: Village of Remsen lifted a system-wide boil water advisory on Tuesday Feb 18. According to the Village of Remsen statement announced by WKTV in Utica, a water main ruptured on Main Street Friday, prompting the boil order for all rate payers. Remsen Village serves 618 residents from a groundwater source in the Upper Mohawk River watershed. The facility has a good compliance record with the EPA, no violations identified in the last three years.
The new WTNY.us Serious Violator list is here.
The Safe Drinking Water Act protects public health through the administration and delivery of quality drinking water supplies across the USA. The US EPA establishes standards for drinking water, monitors and enforces treatment techniques for surface water and groundwater, sets maximum limits for around 100 contaminants ensuring public disclosure of deviations and discrepancies.
WaterToday opens the record books of the federal drinking water regulator to bring awareness to the local raw water supply and the compliance record of licensed water treatment facilities. The New York Department of Health inspects 8,180 licensed and active public drinking water facilities, reporting the results to the EPA. Check back here for drinking water news and alerts as they arise in NYS.
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