New York State Launches Private Well PFAS Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program in Six Counties

Pilot Program to Address PFAS in Private Wells

Dutchess and Putnam County Residents Can Now Apply; Orange, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester to Launch in Coming Months

Program is the Most Recent Action Taken by New York State to Address PFAS in Drinking Water and Communities

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced residents in Dutchess and Putnam Counties who get their drinking water from private wells can apply for free per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) testing. If mitigation is necessary, they will be eligible for a rebate to install a PFAS water treatment system or connect to a public water supply. The New York State Private Well PFAS Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program, helping fulfill the Governor’s 2025 State of the State commitment, will also be accepting applications in Orange, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester over the coming months.

“My administration is committed to protecting the health of New Yorkers by tackling emerging contaminants in drinking water,” Governor Hochul said. “As we continue to learn more about the adverse health effects of PFAS, New York State is taking unprecedented steps to protect our communities. We’re working with counties to address PFAS and provide peace of mind for private well users including those in small and disadvantaged communities.”

The New York State Department of Health, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), has budgeted $1.5 million per county to support this pilot project. These funds will support a limited number of participants in six counties selected for the pilot because they have large numbers of private wells and a higher likelihood of PFAS contamination.

The program will begin accepting testing applications from Dutchess and Putnam County private well users on March 9. Applications will open in the other counties in the pilot as contracts with those counties are finalized.

Eligible participants can have their private well tested for PFAS at no cost. If PFAS test results indicate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) levels at or above the current New York State public drinking water standards of 10 parts per trillion (or nanograms per liter), participants can apply for a rebate once the water treatment project is complete. Participants can receive up to $5,000 for a PFAS water treatment system or up to $10,000 to connect to a public water supply. Information about rebate eligibility can be found on the Department of Health’s website.

Once the pilot is officially launched in each participating county, private well owners will be able to apply through the Department of Health's website. The application period will remain open while funding is available. Those interested in applying should visit health.ny.gov/PrivateWellPFAS for updates regarding application acceptance windows for their participating county. Completed applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.

New York’s Commitment to Addressing PFAS

New York State was one of the first states to develop enforceable public drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS. State and County health departments continue taking robust actions to prevent health risks and reduce exposure in public drinking water.

Since 2017, New York State has invested billions of dollars for public water and sewer infrastructure, including projects that address emerging contaminants in water. Governor Hochul is proposing another $3.75 billion commitment, bringing total investments in public water and sewer infrastructure to nearly $10 billion dollars since 2017.

As part of the State’s efforts to address the sources of PFAS, Governor Hochul’s 2026 State of the State directed DEC to develop draft regulations to instruct landfills to treat leachate for harmful contaminants at the source before discharge and provide funding for local governments to comply. DEC also recently announced several significant actions and resources to protect, educate, and assist New York communities in addressing PFAS. DEC released a progress report detailing New York State’s leadership in addressing PFAS and a new study detailing the presence of PFAS on the landscape. In addition, DEC finalized important wastewater treatment plant guidance that protects drinking water and other surface waters and has proposed new policies directing DEC’s actions in PFAS investigations and sampling of biosolids products. DEC held a series of virtual meetings in early 2026 about ongoing actions and key priorities to address PFAS contamination and protect New York communities. Stay up to date about these initiatives by visiting: dec.ny.gov/pfas.

Private Well Testing for Other Contaminants

This private well pilot program focuses on PFAS, which is more costly to test and address compared to other contaminants. The Department of Health reminds private well owners to regularly test wells for bacteria at least once a year, and other contaminants every three to five years, to ensure water is suitable for household use.

For more information on private well testing and maintenance visit health.ny.gov/Privatewells.

Learn more about New York’s Private Well PFAS Testing and Mitigation Pilot Program at health.ny.gov/PrivateWellPFAS.