POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County released a study Wednesday of 125 private wells tested throughout the county during the last year and only one was found, located at a residence in East Fishkill, that met the laboratory’s detection level of .05 parts per billion of MTBE, petroleum additive.

MTBE is one of the most dangerous compounds to be found in drinking water, and Stephen Capowski, the county’s director Environmental Health Services, said that contamination level is equivalent to about one drop of water in 18,000 gallons of water.

County Executive William Steinhaus said the test results will be added to the data the county has already collected.

“All subdivision plan reviews now require the drilling and testing of monitoring wells to insure an adequate quantity and a safety quality of drinking water,” he said. “Dutchess County actually predated the New York State regulations by 10 years being proactive and being forward thinking. The Health Department has reviewed more than 250 subdivisions of greater than two lots, a total of 3,100 lots have been reviewed in Dutchess County.”

Of the 125 wells sampled, 42 tested positive for total coli form bacteria and three tested positive for E. coli, one each in the towns of Clinton, Rhinebeck and Pawling. But none of the homes that tested positive for the coli form or E. coli exceeded the maximum allowable limit of .05 parts per billion.

And of the 125 tested, 62 tested positive for levels of sodium greater than 20 mg per liter – but less than 270 mg per liter for those on severely restricted sodium diets. Only three residences exceeded the 270 mg per liter for those on moderately restricted sodium diets.

“There are no maximum contaminant levels for sodium,” said Capowski.

Capowski said the sodium contamination may have occurred through road salt run-off or water softeners.

“We’re getting a good idea of what is happening with our watersheds and aquifers in Dutchess County,” said Capowski.

Dutchess County will now conducted a second round of testing for those who volunteer, and those wells would be tested the same those in the phase one. And in addition to those residences tested, subdivisions will now be tested.