UPDATE: What You Need to Know About Harmful Algal Blooms and Drinking Water in the Hudson River9/30/2025
 We've compiled the latest information to provide an update, "What You Need to Know About Harmful Algal Blooms and Drinking Water in the Hudson River." Special thanks to Dan Shapley of Riverkeeper for his valuable assistance. (Photo credit: Daniel Cohen for Riverkeeper)  Last week, the Hudson 7, Riverkeeper, Town of Esopus and City of Poughkeepsie worked closely together in response to a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) in the Hudson River Estuary. The concern came to our attention last Monday afternoon, based on observations that suggested the presence of cyanobacteria, a naturally occurring microorganism that can, under certain conditions, produce harmful toxins such as microcystin.
The Hudson 7 is requesting additional support from NYSDOH, including routine testing of both raw and finished water at each of the Hudson 7 water treatment plants. While microcystin appears to be the primary toxin of concern in this case, we are also asking for testing of other cyanotoxins to ensure that treatment processes can be adapted if needed. Cyanobacteria blooms like this are rare in the Hudson River, but they may become more common due to changing climate conditions, such as warmer temperatures and prolonged dry periods like the one we've recently experienced. That said, the public should remain confident in the safety of the water being delivered by Hudson 7 water systems. The detection of microcystins in raw water is serious, but it also shows that our monitoring and treatment systems are working as they should - detecting issues early, treating them effectively, and protecting public health. If you see a suspected HAB, report it to the NYS DEC (photos encouraged) here: https://ow.ly/WY0k50WVm5r Learn more about HABs: https://ow.ly/WX0E50WVm5q |
Hudson 7 adminRebecca Martin, Source Water Protection Coordinator Archives
December 2025
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