Immediate Release 

January 19, 2008

Public Hearing to Discuss Proposed Revisions to Tompkins County Sanitary Code

The Tompkins County Board of Health is proposing revisions to Article VII of the Tompkins County Sanitary Code to include construction permit regulations for all new private and public water wells and to modify regulations for small water systems serving the public. Public information meetings were held on April 24, 2007, at the Newfield Town Hall and Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at the Dryden Town Hall. The Public Hearing is scheduled for:

 
People with comments in support of or with objections to the changes may appear or may send written comments until February 18, 2008 to the:

 
The proposed changes to the Sanitary Code would:

• Require Water Well Construction Permits for all new wells or to abandon existing wells.
• Require that all new wells be analyzed at least for total coliform bacteria and nitrate.
• Clarify regulations for small public water systems (generally serving more than 10 but less than 25 people) by clearly defining “Local Public Water System” and require:
• approved plans to construct or modify these systems.
• permanent disinfection unless a waiver is in effect.
• routine monitoring and reporting on disinfection operations.
• routine monitoring and reporting of water chemical and bacteriological quality

The proposed changes to the Sanitary Code were modified in response to written comments and comments received at the public information meetings. A copy of the proposed revisions is available on the Tompkins County web site at www.tompkins.co.org, or by contacting the Division of Environmental Health at 274-6688. For more information, contact:

Liz Cameron, P.E.
Director, Division of Environmental Health
607-274-6688