Community Forum Planned On Desalination Plant Concerns

Community activists are bringing their concerns about severe storms and the potential impact on the proposed Hudson River Water Treatment Plant to a public forum on Tuesday, Jan. 29.  The 7 p.m. “Community Conversation on Rockland’s Drinking Water” at the Nanuet Public Library will also include the latest information on United Water’s desalination plant proposal for West Haverstraw.

Earlier this month 27 environmental and civic groups signed a letter sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo noting the hurricane damage sustained by the project’s pilot plant.

Some of the questions coalition members expect to address are “If the desalination plant had been built earlier, sited on the Hudson River, would it have been rendered inoperable during Hurricane Sandy? Would future storms jeopardize Rockland’s water supply or leave residents with skyrocketing bills to pay for damage, on top of massive construction costs?”

Discussion will take place about health concerns, water rate costs and potential impacts on the river habitat. The Coalition has proposed a range of sustainable and less expensive alternatives to desalination, including conservation and efficiency, a stepped up program of repair of leaks, and possible wastewater reuse.