The Rockland County Health Department has issued a boil water order today for customers on Bush Avenue and Route 17/Orange Turnpike in Sloatsburg. Customers are ordered to boil their water before using it for drinking or cooking purposes. The boil water order is a precautionary measure following a main break in the area.
Loss of pressure in a water main increases the chance that untreated water and harmful microbes could enter the system. Therefore customers must boil their water until further notice.
Customers that have been affected have been individually notified.
The boil water order is in effect for the following Sloatsburg addresses:
- Ledge #4
- Bush Ave #1, 2, 3, 5, 7
- Route 17 (Orange Turnpike) northbound # 181, 179, 177, 169, 171, 165, 163, 161, 159, 157, 153, 151, 149, 147, 145, 143, 139, 137, 135, 133, 131, 129, 127, 125, 121, 119, 117, 115
- Route 17 (Orange Turnpike) southbound #124, 126, 128, 132, 136, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 160
Customers are ordered to boil their water for one minute for the following uses: drinking, cooking, baking, washing dishes, making ice cubes, taking medication, brushing teeth, washing food, mixing baby formula, mixing juices or drinks, feeding pets or other consumption. Water does not have to be boiled for showering or washing clothes.
Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, some elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. The symptoms above are not just caused by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.
United Water emergency crews will collect water samples to monitor the safety of the drinking water. After the repairs are completed, it typically takes 72 hours to administer tests to two sets of samples and receive results, so it is important for customers in the affected area to continue to boil water until further notice.
For more information customers can call the Rockland County Health Department at 845-364-2608 or United Water at 845-623-1500, extension 2225.
