MakingWaves - July 28, 2017

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 07/28/2017 03:46 PM EDT
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC Delivers - Information to keep you connected and informed from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
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MakingWaves

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

This Week's Updates:

  • NYC Draft Filtration Avoidance Determination
  • New Fact Sheets
  • Harmful Algal Bloom Notifications

New York State Health Department Releases Draft Filtration Avoidance Determination for the New York City Water Supply

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) has released the draft New York City Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) for public comment. The FAD sets forth the requirements that New York City must follow to continue to avoid filtering its Catskill/Delaware water supply and to ensure safe drinking water for more than 9.5 million New Yorkers. In anticipation of the final FAD being issued this year, the draft has been released for a 45-day public comment period, ending September 5, 2017. To view the draft FAD and for instructions on how to comment, visit DOH’s New York City’s Filtration Avoidance Determination webpage.

TMDL and Nine Element Watershed Plans Fact Sheets

DEC has two new fact sheets available on two types of clean water plans: Total Maximum Daily Load plans (TMDLs) (PDF, 129 KB) and Nine Element Watershed Plans (PDF, 130 KB). Each fact sheet describes why and how that type of plan is developed, and how it can be used to improve and/or protect a waterbody. For more information, visit DEC’s Clean Water Plans webpage.

Harmful Algal Bloom NotificationsHABs

New waterbodies with harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been added today, July 28, to DEC’s Harmful Algal Blooms Notifications webpage.

This week, 16 waterbodies were added to the notification list. There are currently 48 waterbodies with blooms on the list.

What do HABs (Usually) Look Like?

HABs may resemble spilled paint, pea soup, streaks or green clumps. Colors can include shades of green, blue-green, yellow, brown, red or white. Because it is hard to tell a HAB from non-harmful algal blooms, avoid contact with any water with a bloom.

Avoid and Report Suspected Blooms

Because waterbodies may have HABs 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 HAB, or you, your family, or pet has been in contact with a HAB, please follow the instructions for reporting a bloom to DEC. If you see it, avoid it and report it!