Environmental Health Topics

• Food Safety, Foodborne Illness, Lead Poisoning Prevention, Hazardous Materials Exposure
• Indoor Air Quality, Private Sewage Systems, Water Supply Quality
• Orientation to the Emergency Response System
• Public Health Nuisances
• Vector-Borne Communicable Diseases such as Rabies, West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease

Environmental Health Services - 607.778.2887

The programs offered by this division strive to preserve and protect the quality of the environment as it impacts the public health of Broome County and to prevent illness and injuries caused by environmental factors. The Environmental Health Services Division is charged with providing information on and the necessary enforcement of state and local health laws, codes and standards that apply to various facilities and systems. The services performed by Environmental Health Services include the following:

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention - 607.778.2847

Lead poisoning is caused by eating, drinking or breathing anything with lead in it. It can slow a child's normal growth and development and can cause mental retardation, kidney disease, liver damage, blindness or death. Regular testing on children up to six years of age is required to find the problem early.

The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is managed by the health department with testing done by health department clinic staff, private physicians, and medical clinics. Advice on cleaning the child's environment, nutrition, housekeeping, working with landlords/property owners and physicians, and retesting are part of the follow-up when an elevated lead level is found.

Lead Primary Prevention Program Information

Public Water Supply

• Inspect, survey and monitor public water supplies and provide technical assistance to water supply operators.
• Help prevent public well and aquifer contamination through plan review of chemical-using facilities.
• Assist town and village governments in implementing groundwater protection strategies and ordinances.

[ Endicott Water Supply Information ... ]

Hazardous Materials

• Investigate and report on dumpsites, which may present a potential public health exposure.
• Protect the public health through review and monitoring of hazardous waste site investigations and clean up.
• Respond to chemical emergencies that may produce an environmental hazard; review remediation activities to reduce public health hazards.

Community Sanitation

• Review and provide approval of all wastewater disposal systems for new construction.
• Design, inspect, and provide approval for all residential replacement wastewater disposal systems.
• Review and provide approval of all proposed commercial wastewater disposal systems.
• Review and provide approvals for realty subdivisions including proposed water supply and wastewater disposal systems.
• Inspect and issue annual operating permits for hotels/motels, travel trailer campgrounds, mobile home parks, and children's camps.
• Inspect and survey all public swimming pools and beaches in Broome County.

[ Sewage Disposal Permit Application ... ]

***  As of June 1, 2010, the permit fee for the design, inspection and approval  to correct a failing sewage system at an existing house will be $190.00.

Food Protection

• Inspect, exercise surveillance, and enforcement over food service facilities in Broome County.

[ Foodservice/Application for a Permit to Operate ]

[ Foodservice Floor Plan Application ]

[ Foodservice Fee Schedule ]

[ Mobile Food Outdoor Operations ]

[ Temporary Food Service Safety Class ]

[ Trans Fat Brochure ]

Air Quality

• Respond to reports of impacted indoor air quality and provide recommendations for corrective actions. Recent air quality problems have involved formaldehyde, asbestos, chlordane and radon.
• Provide guidance on Public Health Law in regard to tobacco use issues.
• Monitor compliance with the Clean Indoor Air Act on tobacco use.

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Gas Drilling and How it May Affect Your Water

• Provide Certified Water Testing Laboratories, Drinking water regulations and other water-related information.
• Information concerning Marcellus Shale and natural gas drilling.
• Currently reviewing the Department of Environmental Conservation Supplemental General Environmental Impact Statement (sGEIS).
• Provide water testing guidance for your well.

[ Gas Drilling Resources ]

Vector-Borne Communicable Disease Investigation

• Control rabies with public education and by sponsoring pet vaccination clinics.
• Investigation and follow-up of animal bite reports and submission of animal specimens for rabies analysis.
• The Broome County Health Department will no longer be assisting in the direct shipment of ticks to the New York State Department of Health.  Two links are provided for your use to identify and provide information on ticks.

[ Tick Identification Service ]

[ Tick Information and Personal Protective Measures ]

[ Rabies Information ... ]

[ West Nile Virus Information ... ]

Environmental Health Links

• Complaints & Inquiries
• Caring for a Private Well
• Mold & Human Health