Well Water Notebook
Information only, not medical advice. We never say whether your water is safe to drink. Ask a state-certified lab or your local health department. Disclaimer

Last checked:

Well water testing in Dutchess County, New York

About half of Dutchess County residents get water from household wells. The county health department tested hundreds of private wells in 2007–08, three towns require well testing when a home sells, and the state offers free PFAS testing here. Every fact has a source.

This page can't tell you whether your water is safe to drink. Only a test of your well can do that. For help, contact the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health, listed below.

How many people here use a private well

USGS estimates that about 145,000 people in Dutchess County supplied their own household water in 2015, about 49% of the county's population.1

The county health department says private wells aren't regulated by EPA, New York State or the county, so testing is up to the owner.2

Buying a home with a well in Dutchess County

What countywide testing found

In 2007–08, the county health department ran a countywide private well testing initiative. In its Phase II report (September 2009), the county said:3

The county publishes a database of private well test results.4

What to test and how often

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) recommends testing for bacteria every year, and every 3–5 years for lead, nitrate/nitrite, arsenic, sodium, iron/manganese, turbidity, pH, hardness and alkalinity. Late spring or early summer is the best time.6 NYSDOH suggests extra tests depending on nearby activities, such as volatile organic compounds near fuel storage.7

Free PFAS testing

Dutchess County is one of six counties in NYSDOH's private well PFAS testing pilot, which offers free testing to eligible homes. If PFOA or PFOS is 10 ng/L or more, rebates are up to $5,000 for whole-house treatment, $1,000 for point-of-use treatment, or $10,000 for connecting to public water.8 Check eligibility on the program page.

Labs, well records and contacts

Where to get tested and treatment options

Testing: use an ELAP-certified lab, and check the town's list if you're buying in East Fishkill, Fishkill or Wappinger. See best way to test well water.

If a result is high: our guides cover what agencies say works:

  1. Dieter, C.A., and others, 2018, Estimated Use of Water in the United States County-Level Data for 2015 (ver. 2.0), U.S. Geological Survey data release. https://doi.org/10.5066/F7TB15V5 ↩

  2. Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health, "Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment." https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/Water-Quality-Monitoring-Assessment.htm ↩↩↩↩

  3. Dutchess County, "Private Well Water Testing Initiative Phase II" (September 1, 2009). https://www.dutchessny.gov/45070.htm ↩↩

  4. Dutchess County DBCH, "Private Well Tests." https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/private-well-tests.htm ↩

  5. New York Department of State, "Property Condition Disclosure Statement" (DOS-1614-f) (PDF). https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/05/dos-1614-f-property-condition-disclosure-statement%5F04.2025-eff.-07.2025.pdf ↩

  6. New York State Department of Health, "Test Your Well: Protect Your Family's Water." https://health.ny.gov/publications/6628/ ↩↩

  7. New York State Department of Health, "Individual Water Supply Wells – Fact Sheet #3: Recommended Residential Water Quality Testing." https://health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/regulations/fact_sheets/fs3_water_quality.htm ↩

  8. New York State Department of Health, "Private Well PFAS Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program." https://health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/privatewellspilot/ ↩

  9. NYSDEC, "Water Well Contractor Program." https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/water-well-contractor-program ↩