The Division of Water has posted new announcements on its webpage.

This Week's Updates:

• Swimming Webpage
• WQIP Salt Storage Specifications
• SPDES Priority Ranking List
• Harmful Algal Bloom Notifications

Check out DEC’s Swimming Webpage

Swimming season is here and there are many places to swim in New York State. DEC encourages you to have fun, but also to be aware of possible hazards.

DEC’s swimming webpage has links to places to swim, information about possible hazards and ways to reduce risk, and links to resources to help you make informed decisions (including information about sewage pollution and harmful algal blooms).

Link to Salt Storage Specifications for WQIP

Applications to the salt storage category of the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program must adhere to the OGS salt storage specifications. Some applicants have requested a more direct link to the specifications. In addition to the link listed on our website and in the Program Overview, here is another path to the same information: OGS Salt Storage Specifications (PDF, 117 KB).

State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Priority Ranking List 2017

The 2017 SPDES Environmental Benefit Permit Strategy (EBPS) priority ranking list is now available to view on DEC’s SPDES Permit webpage. The list is based on a ranking system that prioritizes permits for full technical review and, when necessary, modification. Any interested party may provide, at any time, substantive comments requesting a change in a permit's rank based on the grounds that newly discovered information exists; that a change in environmental conditions has occurred; or that relevant technology or applicable law or regulations have changed since the existing permit was issued. For more information, and how to comment, view the July 12 Environmental Notice Bulletin. 

Harmful Algal Bloom Notifications

New waterbodies with harmful algal blooms have been added today, July 14, to DEC’s Harmful Algal Blooms Notifications webpage.

This week, 7 waterbodies were added to the notification list. There are currently 35 waterbodies with blooms on the list.

Avoid and Report Suspected Blooms

Because waterbodies may have harmful algal blooms that have not been reported to DEC, we recommend avoiding contact with floating mats, scum and discolored water.

If you suspect you have seen a harmful algal bloom, or you, your family, or pet has been in contact with a harmful algal bloom, please follow the instructions for reporting a bloom to DEC. If you see it, avoid it and report it!