Environmental Health

Upcoming Events: 2023 Rabies Clinic - Dates and Sign-Up Available!

The Center's Role

The Center for Environmental Health, a vital link of Livingston County Department of Health, will provide effective education and inspection programs to help reduce public exposure to environmental hazards, as well as envisioning an informed community living in a safe environment.

What is Environmental Health?

The Center For Environmental Health is committed to the concept of disease prevention and health promotion for the residents of Livingston County. The center has a number of programs designed to encourage healthful practices and to eliminate or effectively control environmental conditions which may adversely affect public health. The center is currently offering the following programs:

Restaurants and Food

• Administers food worker's courses
• Investigates cases of foodborne illness
• Issues permits and inspects restaurants and food vendors
• Provides instruction and guidance
• Responds to questions and complaints

Learn more about Livingston County Food Service Establishment Inspection results.

Campgrounds/Children's Camps

• Inspects annually and issues permit
• Responds to complaints

Hotels/Motels/Mobile Home Parks

• Inspects annually and issues permit
• Responds to complaints

Public Pools/Beaches

• Oversees water sampling and testing
• Performs inspections to evaluate safety hazards

Water Supply

• Inspects and tests public water supplies
• Issues health notices and advisories
• Provides education for private water users
• Provides guidance and education to operators of public water systems
• Responds to problems and complaints
• Learn more about trihalomethanes in water

Sewage Disposal/Septic Systems

Application for Individual Wastewater Treatment System Permit

• GRANT FUNDING AVAILABLE for repair systems of properties within the Conesus Lake watershed.
• Issues permits and conducts inspections. Obtain a septic system (wastewater treatment system) permit for your new home.
• Offers technical assistance for homeowners, contractors, and design professionals regarding the operation and maintenance of septic systems.
• Responds to complaints

Dog Control

• Maintains county dog shelter
• Operates dog adoption program
• Picks up stray dogs
• Promotes dog licensure and vaccination
• Responds to complaints with local ordinances

Rabies Control/Animal Bites

• Identifies possible exposure to rabies
• Promotes rabies awareness in the community
• Provides testing of suspect wildlife and domestic animals
• Click here to report an animal bite       

Insect Disease Transmission

• Provides education on avoidance for diseases that can be transmitted by insects to include West Nile Virus, Zika, and Lyme disease.

Clean Indoor Air/Retail Tobacco Compliance

Conducts routine inspections at businesses that sell tobacco and/or vaping products

•  Ensures compliance with county and state tobacco laws
• The Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act regulates the sale of tobacco products with the goal of restricting access by minors. This act works to prevent tobacco use among Livingston County youth.
• Compliance checks are conducted using an underage youth. Sales made to an underage youth result in an enforcement action for violation of Public Health Law Article 13-F. New York State law also requires that the name and address of the Retail Tobacco Dealer in violation of Article 13-F be made public.
  View the List of Retail Tobacco Dealers in Violation of Article 13-F
• Conducts investigations in response to concerns for indoor air quality
• Investigates complaints and answers questions

Radon Awareness/Testing

• Provides assistance to homeowners regarding indoor radon hazards
• Distributes FREE radon kits to Livingston County residents
• View the New York State Department of Health radon page.

Lead Prevention

• Assesses homes to identify sources of lead
• Collects samples for testing
• Directs cleanup of lead sources
• Provides occupational hazard training

Public Health Nuisances

• Investigates complaints on garbage, rodents, and other unsanitary conditions

Conesus Lake Watershed Surveillance

Planning Department website.

• Collects water quality samples
• Inspects the lake watershed to insure compliance with rules and regulations
• Investigates complaints
• Provides guidance and education to homeowners, lake area visitors, business owners, and the farming community

Harmful Algal Blooms Fact Sheet

Conesus Lake Guide

Weights and Measures

• Performs inspections of retail facilities to ensure proper calibration of scales and fuel pumps
• Responds to consumer complaints

**Information found within this site was graciously given by Tompkins County Environmental Health staff.**