Hudson 7 Launches First Training for Water Operators: 'How Changes in the Hudson River Impact Treatment" with contact credits

This spring, the Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council (Hudson 7) will host its first-ever educational training for drinking water treatment operators, marking an important milestone in the Council’s efforts to strengthen local knowledge, coordination, and resilience in drinking water protection.

The training, scheduled during Hudson 7’s Annual Water Operators Appreciation Week on May 29, is designed specifically for Hudson 7 drinking water operators in the Towns of Lloyd, Esopus, Hyde Park; the Village of Rhinebeck; and City and Town of Poughkeepsie - and coincides with the seventh anniversary of the Hudson 7's formation. 

The session will provide a deep dive into the day-to-day and seasonal changes in the Hudson River, and how those shifts directly influence water treatment processes. This knowledge is critical for operators managing our region’s drinking water systems using the Hudson River as its source, especially as climate patterns shift, infrastructure ages, and source water challenges grow more complex.

The Hudson River is a tidal estuary - a living, moving system whose characteristics can vary. These fluctuations, while natural, can present real-time challenges for the operators responsible for delivering clean, safe drinking water to more than 100,000 people.

This specialized training will cover topics such as:

• River turbidity and removal processes
• Jar testing and filter studies
• Chlorine demand, total organic carbon (TOC), and disinfection byproducts
• Water temperature, pH, and chemistry
• Algae, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and salt front dynamics

The session will be led by Hudson 7 Technical Advisors Randy Alstadt, Plant Administrator of the Poughkeepsie Water Treatment Facility (PWTF), and Dorothy DiNobile, PWTF Laboratory Director. Both bring decades of experience and deep familiarity with the Hudson River’s unique characteristics as a drinking water source.

Adding to the significance of the event, the New York State Department of Health has officially approved the session for 4.0 contact hours (0.4 CEUs) for attendees. This designation recognizes the training’s value in supporting continuing education and professional development for our water operators.

As the Hudson 7 continues its mission to protect the Hudson River as a vital drinking water source, this first training event represents a broader commitment to shared learning and regional coordination.