New York Launches Free PFAS Testing, Rebates for Private Wells in Six Counties

Private well owners in Orange County will soon be able to apply for free PFAS testing and rebates of up to $10,000 under a new state pilot program, with applications opening in the coming months as New York finalizes its contract with the county.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the New York State Private Well PFAS Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program on March 9, targeting six densely populated counties with high concentrations of private wells: Dutchess, Putnam, Orange, Suffolk, Ulster, and Westchester. Dutchess and Putnam residents can already apply at health.ny.gov/PrivateWellPFAS. Orange County, along with Suffolk, Ulster, and Westchester, will follow once state contracts with those counties are finalized.

The scale of the problem the program is designed to address is significant. A U.S. Geological Survey study estimated that 56% of private well owners in New York may be affected by PFAS contamination, though many remain unaware because testing costs have historically been prohibitive. Private wells supply drinking water to approximately one million New Yorkers statewide, and unlike public water systems, they have not previously been covered by New York's 10 parts per trillion standard for PFOA and PFOS, even though New York was the first state in the nation to set that threshold.

The program, led by the state Department of Health, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Environmental Facilities Corporation, will test wells using EPA Method 537.1 version 2 at no cost to applicants. If results show PFOA or PFOS concentrations at or above the 10 nanograms per liter public drinking water standard, homeowners become eligible for rebates: up to $5,000 toward a whole-house PFAS water treatment system, up to $10,000 to connect to a public water supply, or up to $1,000 for point-of-use treatment in certain cases.

Rebate applications must be submitted after mitigation work is completed, and applicants must first receive a program results letter confirming eligibility before applying. Renters can participate but must include a Property Owner Acknowledgment form. Homeowners who already have a whole-house PFAS treatment system not installed through this program are not eligible for whole-house installation coverage, nor are those who were previously offered alternate water through a DEC or third-party remediation program.

The pilot was built on legislation sponsored by State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Chris Burdick under bill S3972/A216, which directed DEC to reimburse private well owners for testing and treatment exceeding state standards.

"Families who depend on private wells did not create the PFAS crisis, yet they are being asked to bear the financial burden of detecting and treating these dangerous forever chemicals," said NYS Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. "This program will reduce exposure to harmful contaminants, protect vital groundwater resources, and prevent PFAS from spreading to future generations."

State officials described the pilot as limited in scope, noting that what is learned will inform how New York expands support for private well owners beyond these six counties. Orange County residents can monitor application status at health.ny.gov/PrivateWellPFAS, where paper applications are also available under the "Documents" section.