​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Hudson 7 launches first annual Water Operators Appreciation Week May 27 - 31 to celebrate its sixth successful year.

Photo courtesy: The Poughkeepsie Journal

Media Contact: 
Hudson 7: Rebecca Martin, Source Water Protection Coordinator
[email protected]
845-750-7295

• The council was officially formed on May 31, 2018 when all seven municipalities gathered to sign an Intermunicipal Agreement.  2024 marks its sixth anniversary.
• In 2023, a Memorandum of Agreement (Amendment #1) included membership of both Ulster and Dutchess Counties, bringing the council to nine voting members.
• To celebrate, the Hudson 7 will feature daily profiles of water plant operators from all five of the Hudson 7 water treatment plants on the  “Hudson 7 Highlights” blog  May 27 - 31.
• A tour of the Poughkeepsies’ Water Treatment Facility (PWTF), the largest drinking water plant in the Hudson 7 watershed located on the campus of Marist College in Poughkeepsie on Friday, May 31 from 10:00am - 12:00pm. 

Mid-Hudson Valley  –  The Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council, known as the Hudson 7, will celebrate its six year anniversary by launching its first annual Water Operators Appreciation Week May 27 - 31st.  The event serves to show appreciation to the dedication of the highly trained operators, technicians and other specialists who play an essential role in providing safe and reliable water to their communities.  The council will feature a water operator profile daily from each of the five drinking water plants within the Hudson 7, and host a tour of the Poughkeepsies’ Water Treatment Facility (PWTF) located on the Marist College Campus at 3431 North Rd, in Poughkeepsie on Friday, May 31st from 10am - 12pm. 

The Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council, known as the Hudson 7, is a coalition of seven municipalities and two counties in the mid-Hudson region that draw drinking water from the Hudson River: The City and Town of Poughkeepsie; Village and Town of Rhinebeck; the Towns of Esopus, Hyde Park and Lloyd; and Dutchess and Ulster counties. For the past six years, Hudson 7 has been working diligently to ensure the safety of our communities’ drinking water. Its five public water treatment plants, at Highland, Hyde Park, Port Ewen, Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck, serve 106,000 residents, three hospitals, three colleges, and major regional employers, providing safe water for human consumption, firefighting, industry, and more. 

Since the council began to meet in 2018, it has taken on tough issues to protect the Hudson River as a drinking water source. With a commitment from local municipal and county leaders, technical advisors, water treatment plant staff, non-profit organizations and agencies, some of the issues that it has addressed include transmission cables, Hudson River anchorages, toxic substances such as coal tar and PCBs and more. The council continues to develop an actionable plan with support by the state’s Drinking Water Source Protection program to prioritize projects that will improve water quality. 

“It’s important for the Hudson 7 to shine a spotlight on our water treatment operators, and the critical function that water treatment plays in the protection of public health, and the essential work that they and their teams do everyday. The Hudson 7 appreciates their work and ongoing contributions to the wellbeing of our communities, and the 100,000 people who rely on the Hudson River drinking water supply.” said Mayor Gary Bassett of the Village of Rhinebeck and the chair of the Hudson 7.  “Our core mission is to protect the source of our drinking water, the Hudson River Estuary. High-quality source water, effective treatment, and consistent distribution are keys to ensuring that we deliver healthy water to our communities, and that communities trust the tap water we provide. We are grateful for our plant operators and hope our annual event will help to inspire a whole new generation to choose a career in drinking water.” 

“It’s easy to take our faucets and spigots and showers for granted–but really it’s the dedicated system operators who work night and day to ensure our water is clean, safe, and protected.” said Supervisor Rebecca Edwards of the Town of Poughkeepsie.  “They work incredibly hard, and the Joint Water Plant is one of the great prides of Poughkeepsie.  It’s an honor to celebrate Randy Alstadt and our plant operators, and all that they do for our community.”  

"We appreciate the diligent efforts of the Hudson 7 Council.  Since its inception, Hudson 7 has allowed our municipalities to become aware of the many factors that align with protecting our drinking water in real-time, and I couldn't be more confident that our water meets the highest standards with Hudson 7 at the helm. It is dire that we protect one of our greatest resources, the Hudson River," said Supervisor Al Torreggiani of the Town of Hyde Park.  "People should take advantage of the upcoming tours of our treatment plants, the design and operations of the facilities are amazing to see in action, as are the 0perators and teams that run them seven days a week."

“Regionalization and collaboration between the members of the Hudson 7 has had a significant impact over the last six years.” said Plant Administrator Randy Alstadt of the Poughkeepsies’ Water Treatment Facility.  “Not only with respect to the important objective of raising awareness around critical threats to our water supply, but also in terms of positive outcomes related to specific projects.”

The Hudson 7 meets monthly on the second Wednesday of each month (except for December) at 5:00pm.  The hybrid meeting is live streamed on its YouTube channel, and meets in person at the PWTF in the City of Poughkeepsie.  
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For more information, please visit:  Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council (Hudson 7) Fact Sheet in 2024