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Amendment of Rules Relating to Treatment of Drinking Water (HC Article 141)

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Rule status: Adopted

Agency: DOHMH

Effective date: July 13, 2025

Proposed Rule Full Text
Art.-141-NOI_Rules-Treatment-of-Drinking-Water_3-31-25.pdf

Adopted Rule Full Text
Art.-141-NOA_Treatment-of-Drinking-Water_6-13-25.pdf

Adopted rule summary:

The Board amends Health Code Article 141 to clarify the timeframe for providing records for New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (“Department”) review for permittees that add chemicals to a building’s water supply. The amendment of subdivision g of section 141.11 requires that permittees provide records of water sampling and analysis in a manner specified by the Department. Provision of data in the Department’s specified format streamlines data collection. The amendment of paragraph 1 of subdivision l of section 141.11 makes two changes. First, it modifies the requirement to provide the Department with records regarding a drinking water treatment system. In the previous rule, reporting was required “within 24 hours after the installation and commencement of treatment or termination of a system.” The amendment instead requires reporting within 24 hours of when the treatment is commenced or the system is terminated, as well as within five business days of a request by the Department. These changes are being implemented because the Department does not need to be informed of system installation if treatment has not commenced, and to ensure that the Department can review records on other occasions to prevent or resolve water treatment issues. Second, the amendment to this paragraph also includes modifications to the information requested from permittees, in order to ensure that the Department has all of the necessary information regarding treatment.

Comments are now closed.

Online comments: 3

  • Sanya Jain

    Please find my comment attached below.

    Comment attachment
    Comments-Proposed_Amendments-Article141_NYCHealthCode.pdf
    Comment added May 1, 2025 7:05pm

  • Welson Chang

    Just so it’s clear for myself (and hopefully others) on the two changes…

    1. Current rule:
    (g) Sampling. Prior to placing the system in operation, the permittee shall confirm that the drinking water supply, after being chemically treated, complies with Subpart 5-1 of the State Sanitary Code. Once the system is operational, the permittee shall take monthly samples of the treated water, to ensure compliance with applicable sections of Subpart 5-1 of the State Sanitary Code. A permittee shall maintain or retain the services of a State
    certified laboratory equipped to analyze drinking water, in accordance with the latest edition of the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, published jointly by the APHA, the AWWA and the WEF. Records of water sampling and analysis shall be maintained on file by the permittee for at least 5 (five) years and made available to the Department upon request within 5 (five) business days.

    Rule if adopted:
    (g) Sampling. Prior to placing the system in operation, the permittee must confirm that the drinking water supply, after being chemically treated, complies with Subpart 5-1 of the State Sanitary Code. Once the system is operational, the permittee must take monthly samples of the treated water, to ensure compliance with applicable sections of Subpart 5-1 of the State Sanitary Code. A permittee must maintain or retain the services of a State certified laboratory equipped to analyze drinking water, in accordance with the latest edition of the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, published jointly by the APHA, the AWWA and the WEF. Records of water sampling and analysis [shall]must be maintained on file by the permittee for at least 5 (five) years and made available to the Department upon request within 5 (five) business days in a manner specified by the Department.

    2. Current rule:
    (1) System Installation and/or Termination.
    Within 24 hours after the installation and commencement of treatment or termination of a system, the permittee shall report to the Department the following information:
    (A) The owner, name, address, and description of the premises where the device is located;
    (B) The date the device was installed and/or terminated and the approval date for the device;
    (C) The chemicals to be used with the device; and,
    (D) The name and address of the permittee.

    Rule if adopted…
    (1) System Commencement and/or Termination.
    The permittee must maintain a record of every system installed and make those records available to the Department upon request within 5 (five) business days in a manner specified by the Department. Within 24 hours after the commencement of treatment or termination of a system, the permittee must report to the Department such commencement or termination in a manner specified by the Department. All reports to the Department must include the building location, building owner contact information, system location details, the date of installation, commencement, or termination, the chemicals or other substances used, the water treatment purpose, and any additional system and device details that the Department shall require. The requirements of this paragraph apply to any system installed by a third party and operated by the permittee.

    Both rule changes are acceptable as proposed. The basis and purpose of the rule change is clear and well explained in the full text. Thank you.

    Comment added May 6, 2025 3:20pm

  • Dhruvin Thakkar

    This issue is not just technical, it is deeply personal.
    Support for Subdivision (g) – Standardised Data Submission
    Support for Subdivision (l) – 24-Hour Notification Requirement
    Recommendations for Strengthening the Rule Further

    Full Comment attached below.

    Comment attachment
    Public-comment-.pdf
    Comment added May 6, 2025 7:02pm