This information will direct local and state efforts to protect public drinking water sources, and will assist the State in overseeing public water systems. Assessments will be completed for all sources of public drinking water and will be made available to the public. The Source Water Assessment Program does not impose any new mandates or regulations on farmers in New York State. Much of the information needed, such as maps and inventories, has already been gathered for local wellhead and watershed protection programs. Agriculture is recognized for its role in keeping New York s waters clean by preserving open space and wetlands.
Clean water is critical to the health of farm families and their livestock.
However, farming activities have the potential to add certain contaminants, such as pathogens, nutrients, and pesticides to drinking water sources through runoff into surface waters or percolation through the soil to ground water. Agricultural contaminants, which enter drinking water sources, have been linked to newly recognized health concerns. This has caused public drinking water regulations to be strengthened. Two contaminants of special concern are listed below. This pathogen can be harbored by livestock and can enter water supplies via manure washed from barnyards or cropland.