Dutchess County, NY Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Unlike Long Island or the Delaware River Basin, Dutchess County water users draw primarily from the Hudson River (Town of Poughkeepsie Joint Water Project serves Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park, Wappinger, and other districts) and well-based groundwater in rural areas. NYS DEC manages drought response under 6 NYCRR Part 674, declaring Normal/Advisory/Watch/Warning/Emergency levels by drought region - Dutchess sits in the Hudson Valley region. During DEC-declared Watch or above, the Joint Water Project, City of Poughkeepsie Water Dept, and Beacon Water Dept can institute odd/even watering days, hose-ban on pavement washing, and car-wash restrictions. Millbrook and smaller villages serving private wells rely on individual advisory notices. The Delaware River Basin Commission and NYC DEP watershed rules affect only far-western Dutchess (Town of Dover, Union Vale near watershed boundaries) - those mostly govern water quality, not outdoor use. Agricultural water use on Hudson Valley farms is generally exempt under Right-to-Farm AGM 308 and water-withdrawal permits from DEC.