Rockland: Hudson River Drinking Water?
United Water's 'Haverstraw Water Supply Project' draft ready for review, state says
In the near future, Rocklanders may be getting a portion of their drinking water from the Hudson River.
United Water—which serves about 270,000 residents throughout Rockland—announced Wednesday that the Haverstraw Water Supply Project is one step closer to being realized. United Water officials said New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has noted United Water's draft is complete and ready for review, questions and comments.
The project, which aims to install a Hudson River pumping station, treatment plant and water main in Haverstraw, has not been approved, however—only moved forward. The next step in the process is public review, explained Steven Goudsmith, a spokesman for United Water.
Two public hearings will be held at Haverstraw Town Hall on Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The project came about per a state order. Rockland's demographics are growing at a quick pace, officials said, and by 2015, the population may outstrip the supply of water. The solution? Build the plant and dip into the Hudson.
"This is a very positive step forward for the Haverstraw Water Supply Project," said Michael J. Pointing, United Water’s vice president and general manager. "It means that the residents of Rockland County are closer to getting a much needed new water supply."
Pointing added that the plant is a necessity, and that using the Hudson River as a water source costs less—and is better for the environment—than constructing a new reservoir or wastewater resuse facility.
Drinking water concerns are not new to the area—recent studies have uncovered sewage in the Hudson–but Pointing said Department of Health studies prove river water can "be purified to meet or surpass all safe drinking water standards."
"In fact, water produced at the pilot site is as good as or better than what customers are consuming today," he added.
Moving soon
1:45 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
There is only a single Rockland demographic that is growing at a quick pace. Since Patrick Farm is moving forward, we ALL get to pay for a new water supply project for the Hasidic community. By the way, please refer to United Water as Suez, the French multinational that controls our local water resources.
Philip Yacuk
2:25 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
This will be pushed down our throats if we don't speak up - probably even if we do but it's worth a fight - join Riverkeeper, see the Journal News story from Lamont Dougherty about how energy intensive the process is, so it will also drive up enrgy need and cost
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012301150110
Shar
3:01 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Looks like ICLEI is at it again..sabotaging our Hudson sewer lines so they can force new lines for their cause and add more jobs for UNION over paided workers
Sheila
9:05 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
United Water/Suez only cares about profits. Not the community or environment. They are destroying us on Jeffrey Court in West Nyack from there flooding from Lake Deforest. They comment is " we are in the water supply business not the flood prevention". Don't let them add Haverstraw to the path of destruction.
Watchdog
1:28 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
You have no one to blame but the former Town Supervisor Klein who built those homes in Flood Zone, over the objection of the very company you are blaming for the problem, United Water, formerly Spring Valley Water. Also NYS and Clarkstown politicians, including then Town Councilman Ed Lettre, for forcing the sale of watershed property, some of which was purchased by a construction company owned by Michael Lettre and his brother Fast Eddie Lettre who sold his house last year for over $800,000. They did not have the a$$ to build it and I believe the company went belly up, giving Ed Lettre all the qualifications he needed to get the job of supervising all construction for the Kingdom of Gromack. AKA Clarkstown.
jane Barch
11:21 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
No one who lives near the Hudson River can entertain the notion of using it as a source of drinking water. What analysis can justify this high cost, energy inefficient, and possibly unnecessary desalination treatment plant ? Other than United Water, the corporate giant, what proof is there that our future needs will require this drastic costly, and unhealthy measure ? Maybe United Water can convince the state authorities that we need this more than a new TZ bridge? Their campaign has just begun.
Watchdog
1:30 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
Where do you expect to get all the water for the Hats. Be thankful they do not bathe that often.
$$$$$$$$$$$$
11:40 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
Heres a thought..we are in short supply of water soon?years ago we had a drought..many many homes in west nyack and new city had lush lawns do to the owners ignoring the water crisis.WHY DONT WE PASS A LAW THAT WILL NOT ALLOW LAWN WATERING UNLESS IT IS FROM A PRIVATE WELL?watering a lawn is nor productive to the safety of people..and maybe homeowners will start to think of more natural ways to keep a house Envio friendly..too many chemicals..too many additives for what? green grass? sick priority!!!!AND HOW WILL WE ALL FEEL WHEN WE SEE A PERSON PEE IN THE RIVER ONE DAY IN THE FUTURE? FINE THEM FOR WATER POLLUTION?BOATS LEAK OIL...SHIPS PUMP THEIR BATHROOMS INTO THE RIVER. AND WADDABOUT THE INDIAN POINT RADIOACTIVITY??????????
Shar
12:10 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
In NY we have plenty of rain to care for our water needs...why would United Water want to pursue such a waste of money on the over burdened taxpayer.
Muriel Pendleton
12:55 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
I cannot imagine drinking water from the Hudson, purified or not. As a present resident of Rockland County, I am against this new project. Currently, with the present water provided from United Water, when I turn on my faucet at times, it smells of either sulphur or bleach. And now we're supposed to drink water from the Hudson, which has had many problems for years and years?