Mid Hudson Times Oct. 05 2016 | Page 4

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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , October 5 , 2016

New Windsor keeps wary eye on water

Continued from page 1

parts per trillion at the time of the tests . The city switched to using water from Brown ’ s Pond and then the Catskill Aqueduct over the summer .

But , with a temporary shutdown of the aqueduct looming next year , both municipalities must find clean , alternative sources of drinking water .

Part of the watershed

The Town of New Windsor is part of the city ’ s watershed . Both Washington Lake and Stewart Air National Guard Base - now believed to be the chief source of the PFOS contamination – are located in the town .

“ Brown ’ s Pond and most of Washington Lake is geographically located in the Town of New Windsor ,” Egitto explained . “ Our streams and surface runoff feed into Brown ’ s Pond and Washington Lake ,” Egitto said .

In fact , the pond serves as a backup source of water for the town , he said . “ Town of New Windsor can get water from Brown ’ s Pond ,” Egitto said . “ We cannot do that with Washington Lake .”

The town ’ s main source of water is the Catskill Aqueduct , operated by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection , which conducts “ extensive testing ” of its raw water , Egitto said . “ We have the benefit of having access to New York City ’ s testing process , so there ’ s a lot of testing available to us for the aqueduct water that comes into the town ,” he said .

In addition to aqueduct water , the town ’ s drinking water comes from St . Anne ’ s Well and Kroll Well . Residents in a portion of the Beaverdam area and Scott Acres in Rock Tavern have their own water-supply systems . Many residents also use private wells . “ Once we became aware of the City of Newburgh situation , we started working with the ( state ) Health Department to test all of our water sites ,” Egitto said .

“ We have tested the three , new proposed wells ,” Egitto said , speaking about the three water wells in the process of being permitted along the Moodna Creek , and PFOS was non-detectable .

But , at Kroll Well in May , tests showed levels of PFOS at 11.1 parts per trillion and perfluorooctanoic acid ( PFOA ) at 12 parts per trillion . Both are well below the current EPA ’ s health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion , Egitto pointed out .

Perfluorinated chemicals ( PFCs ), including PFOS , are considered “ emerging contaminants ,” Egitto explained . “ Those are compounds that are not presently regulated or presently under any water plants ’ existing permits ,” he said . “ They were detected through a testing process called the ‘ Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule .’”

The EPA ’ s UCMR program requires public water supplies to be tested for 20 to 30 compounds , including emerging contaminants like PFOS . “ It provides a basis of information for the EPA to determine if these compounds are in the water and if they are something we need to be concerned about in terms of future regulation ,” he said .

According the U . S . Department of Health and Human Services , PFCs have been shown to have possible links to decreased fertility , birth defects , high cholesterol and increased risk of cancer , among other ill-health effects .

The last round of UCMR testing was the third ever , Egitto said . “ Before that , these compounds may have been in the water , they may not have ,” he said . “ No one was testing for them .”

Private well-testing near Stewart

Last month , the New York State Department of Health began a private-well survey in the area of the Stewart Air National Guard Base . “ This survey will serve to identify whether or not private wells in this area have PFOS contamination ,” Sen . Bill Larkin Jr . stated in a September press release .

“ The NYSDOH has recommended that if you are using a private well as your water supply , you , and especially pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers , may want to consider using bottled water for drinking , cooking , and preparing infant formula until your well is tested and the quality of your water supply can be assured .”

The state has requested a list of town properties close to the airport and Washington Lake , Egitto said Monday .

The PFOS contamination and its continuing impacts , known and unknown , have underscored the immense value of the three developing wells along Moodna Creek , each expected to yield anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 gallons of raw water per minute when completed .

The town currently pays $ 1,728.99 per million gallons of raw water from the Catskill Aqueduct , and just over $ 5,000 per million gallons for excess water use . “ It is expensive ,” Egitto said . “ Construction , repairs and shutdown of the Catskill Aqueduct are driving the town to look at viable , alternative water supplies .”

The goal is for the wells to be online in time for the scheduled closure of the aqueduct in the fall next year , he said .

State takes the lead

The town is required to routinely test the finished water coming from the Riley Road Water Filtration Plant and the Stewart Water Filtration Plant on Crotty Lane at Stewart International Airport , close to the contaminated air base . “ Both treat Catskill Aqueduct water , both go into a common distribution system ,” Egitto said .

“ The drinking water supply is completely isolated from any other water bodies ,” he added , including Silver Stream , believed to be the chief mode of transport for contaminated water that flowed from the air base to Washington Lake .

“ There ’ s no cross-connection between water supplies and any of the surfaces ,” said Egitto and the aqueduct water pumps directly to the filtration plant . “ Everything is enclosed .”

The finished water is tested daily for coliform bacteria and “ continuously ” for turbidity and chlorine residual . Tests are conducted quarterly for disinfection byproducts , Egitto said , and yearly for heavy metals , synthetic organics and volatile organics . Lead testing is conducted on a separate schedule and takes place again in 2017 , he said .

In terms of the PFOS water crisis , Egitto said , the state is “ taking the lead ,” as the DEC has jurisdiction over surface water in the state . “ The town hasn ’ t been involved in testing , other than our drinking water ,” said Egitto , not including aqueduct water .

New Windsor Town Supervisor George Green said he is confident in the state ’ s ability to lead the extensive cleanup , now underway . Green praised the state Governor ’ s Office for “ advising us every step of the way ” this year .

In Brief

Teen murder suspect arraigned in city court

A teenager was arraigned in City of Newburgh Court last week on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Deandric Little , fatally shot on a city street corner in August .

Isaac , 17 , was captured by New York City Police in Staten Island on Sept . 22 . He was found in possession of a loaded handgun at the time of his arrest . “ At this time we cannot confirm whether the handgun he is accused of possessing is related to the homicide ,” City of Newburgh Police reported last week .

Orange County District Attorney ’ s Office , New York State Police and City of Newburgh Police investigated the case

Devin Isaac and obtained a warrant for Isaac ’ s arrest . After appearing in city court , Isaac was taken to Orange County Jail . He also faces felony weapons charges in New York City .

Little , 29 , was shot on the corner of South and Chambers streets on Aug . 1 . He arrived injured and on foot to St . Luke ’ s Cornwall Hospital on the evening of the shooting , according to city police . He was transferred to Westchester Medical Center and later died .

Police have not revealed a possible motive for the shooting . It was the second shooting death in the city this year , following the death of 51-year-old Glenton Wright in March . Eighteen-year-old Keyshan Gayle was shot near the corner of Fullerton Avenue and Third Street on Aug . 30 , weeks after graduating from Newburgh Free Academy .

Gayle ’ s death triggered a public outcry with calls for more lighting and surveillance cameras on city streets .

Route 32 lane closures expected

Motorists are advised that on Friday , October 7 , from 7 a . m . to 5 p . m ., a single lane closure with alternating traffic is expected to occur on Route 32 , in the town of Newburgh , Orange County , between New Road and Weyants Lane , while crews perform maintenance activities , weather permitting . Motorists should expect delays . Drivers are asked to use caution when traveling through the work zone area and pay particular attention to all traffic control devices , including signs and flaggers .

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone . In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005 , convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual ’ s driver license .

For up-to-date travel information , call 511 or visit www . 511NY . org .