[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rockland County Legislature 5-19-2026 by Res. No. 248-2026.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This resolution also repealed former Ch. 178, Water Board, adopted 6-17-2014 by Res. No. 296-2014.
A. 
The Rockland County Water Advisory Council ( the "Council") strives to unite and empower a comprehensive network of stakeholders to collaborate in the development and implementation of a sustainable long-term water supply plan for Rockland County.
B. 
We envision a healthy and sustainable water supply for current and future Rocklanders, for our communities, visitors, businesses, and ecosystems to thrive. Our goal is for residents and visitors to understand where Rockland's drinking water comes from, our systems for water delivery, and how to conserve and protect our supply. Additionally, we strive for community leaders, business owners and professionals to understand the significance of Rockland's watersheds and the impacts of their decisions. The Council serves as a resource network to support source water protection, conservation, watershed health, and equitable access to drinking water.
C. 
The Council will operate under the following core values:
(1) 
Community-centered planning — We bring local municipalities, County agencies, community-based organizations, academic institutions, private and public water utilities, and large water users together to foster collaboration, and unite efforts that lead to a shared voice for action.
(2) 
Data as a resource — We prioritize data-driven approaches to progress our work through the support of research, studies and partnerships to fill gaps in knowledge, and strive to reference the most current data available.
(3) 
Transparency and accountability — We lead with transparency in our decision-making processes, internal workflows, and how we develop our work program goals, and we hold one another accountable to reach those shared goals.
A. 
There is hereby created a Water Advisory Council ( the "Council"). The Council consists of 21 members.
B. 
Each member, excepting those appointed ex officio, will be appointed by the County Executive subject to the confirmation of the County Legislature.
C. 
Members of the Council will be selected based upon their demonstrated interest in developing a sustainable long-term water supply plan for Rockland County.
D. 
Ex officio members and designees.
(1) 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, ex officio members are not subject to confirmation by the County Legislature.
(2) 
Members who serve as designees of ex officio members are not ex officio and must be confirmed.
(3) 
When ex officio members attend a meeting and serve on the Council, then ex officio members are voting members, and their membership will be counted in calculation of a quorum.
(4) 
Ex officio members may, at any time, attend a meeting of the Council in the place of the ex officio member's designee. Such a substitution will not permanently un-designate the designee.
(5) 
Either an ex officio member or their designee may sit on the Council at any given time, not both.
E. 
The membership of the Council will be constituted as follows:
(1) 
The County Executive, ex officio, or the County Executive's designee;
(2) 
The Chairperson of the Legislature, ex officio, or the Chairperson's designee;
(3) 
The Chairperson of the Environmental Committee of the County Legislature, ex officio, or the Chairperson's designee;
(4) 
The Commissioner of Health, ex officio, or the Commissioner's designee;
(5) 
The Executive Director of the Drainage Agency, ex officio, or the Director's designee;
(6) 
The Commissioner of Planning, ex officio, or the Commissioner's designee;
(7) 
The Chairperson of the County Environmental Management Council, ex officio, or the Chairperson's designee;
(8) 
The Coordinator of Environmental Resources, ex officio, or the Coordinator's designee;
(9) 
A member of the Board of Commissioners of one of the Sewer Districts in Rockland County or other sewer operating agency within Rockland County who is not an elected official;
(10) 
A representative of the scientific/academic community;
(11) 
An individual recommended by the Association of Town Supervisors;
(12) 
An individual recommended by the Conference of Mayors;
(13) 
A Director of Facilities or equivalent from a school district in Rockland County or Rockland County BOCES;
(14) 
A representative from an independent school located within Rockland County, including an administrator or facilities director;
(15) 
A representative of a private business within Rockland County;
(16) 
A representative of a real estate agency or development corporation located within Rockland County;
(17) 
- (19) Three representatives of water resource centered community-based organizations, including but not limited to Rockland Water Coalition, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County, Riverkeeper, or others;
(20) 
A representative of Veolia Water New York, Inc., or its successor companies, who shall be recommended to the County Executive; and
(21) 
A representative of a municipal water provider operating in Rockland County.
F. 
All Council members will serve without compensation from the County of Rockland for any work on behalf of or for the Council and, apart from ex officio members, will serve at the will of the County Executive.
G. 
The Chairperson of the Environmental Committee of the Rockland County Legislature, or if that ex officio position is designated to another, the Chairperson's designee, will serve as the Chairperson of the Council. In the event there is no Environmental Committee of the County Legislature, or the Chairperson of that committee is unable to serve and no designee is selected, then the Chairperson will be appointed by the Chairperson of the Legislature from among the existing members of the Legislature. The Chairperson will preside at Council meetings and have such duties as the Council may assign, within the powers of the Council.
H. 
The Vice-Chairperson will be appointed from the membership of the Council by the County Executive. The Vice-Chairperson is responsible for the duties of the Chairperson when the Chairperson is unavailable. The Vice-Chairperson will preside at Council meetings in the absence of the Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson serves at the discretion of the County Executive.
I. 
The Executive Committee.
(1) 
There will be an Executive Committee that has all the powers of the Council.
(2) 
The Executive Committee is comprised of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Council.
(3) 
The Executive Committee has all of the powers of the Council, and if unable to come to a unanimous agreement for a vote will defer to the Council for such action.
(4) 
In any conflict between the Executive Committee and the Council, the action of the Executive Committee will control.
(5) 
The Executive Committee may appoint such employees, officers, and staff to serve the Council and the Executive Committee as allowed by appropriations in the County budget.
(6) 
The Executive Committee will appoint subcommittees from among the Council members, which will be assigned specific tasks.
The powers of the Council are as follows:
A. 
Water resources planning: To develop, maintain, and update County drinking water resources planning documents consistent with best available science, sustainability principles, and long-term demand management goals.
B. 
Data coordination: To assemble, examine, and investigate relevant data from federal, state, regional, and local agencies concerning existing and proposed drinking water resources available to the County.
C. 
Comprehensive Water Conservation and Implementation Plan: To advance the most current Comprehensive Water Conservation and Implementation Plan; to monitor, evaluate, and gather information regarding its implementation; and to periodically review and amend the measures set forth therein, as necessary, to respond to changing needs and consistent with the authority of the Council.
D. 
Climate resiliency: To support and advance climate resiliency actions consistent with and extending beyond the Rockland County Comprehensive Plan, including protecting natural resources, safeguarding water quality and groundwater supply, mitigating stormwater and flood impacts, and promoting local economies through innovative approaches.
E. 
Hudson River protections: To collect and analyze data and review and support policies that protect the Hudson River as a critical regional resource through coordinated planning and collaboration with the state and federal agencies.
F. 
Surface water and groundwater protection: To advance policies aimed to protect surface waters and groundwater as a critical drinking water and environmental resource, including reservoirs, rivers, aquifers, recharge areas, and other key surface water and groundwater features, through coordinated planning and actions.
G. 
Education and outreach: To assist in education, outreach, and incentive programs for residents, municipalities, and businesses related to watershed management, source-water protection, conservation, green infrastructure, and more, and to seek public and private funding for such initiatives.
H. 
County-utility cooperation: To continue to foster collaboration between the County government and utility providers operating within or affecting the County in order to strengthen coordination and advance water resource management goals.
I. 
Annual report requirement: To submit a report to the County Legislature every year on March 1 detailing the actions of the Council.
J. 
Legislature and County Executive review: To submit all final written studies, reports, and recommendations of the Council to the County Legislature and County Executive for review and feedback.
K. 
Other duties: To undertake such additional duties as the County Executive or County Legislature may require.
The Executive Committee may appoint:
A. 
A "coordinator" to be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Council.
(1) 
The person appointed as the "coordinator" must meet and maintain the minimum qualifications consistent with the civil service job specifications for their position.
(2) 
This person will be responsible for performing the executive functions designated by the Council Executive Committee.
B. 
A "special assistant":
(1) 
The person appointed as the "special assistant" must meet and maintain the minimum qualifications consistent with the civil service job specifications for their position.
(2) 
This person will be responsible for performing the executive functions designated by the Council Executive Committee and the Coordinator.