Environmental factors play a central role in the processes of human development, health, and disease. It is not surprising that Environmental Prevention Measures are the mainstay of Public Health to assure safe food and water, manage sewage, and control or eliminate vector-borne illnesses. The environmental health programs in Cortland County are based on primary prevention and provide enormous health benefits to the community. The programs range from preventing human exposure to harmful agents to assuring safety at regulated facilities to ensuring the public has safe drinking water. Services include assessment, monitoring, surveillance, enforcement, and quality assurance.