The Rockland County Health Department has issued a boil water order for about 400 customers in New City and Pomona. Customers are ordered to boil their water for one minute before using it for drinking or cooking purposes. The boil water order is a precautionary measure following a shutdown of the water main in the area.
United Water Spokesman Steve Goudesmith said a contactor working for another entity damaged a United Water fire hydrant and the hydrant shut off valve on New Hempstead Road near Sycamore Drive at approximately 3 p.m. The repair of the fire hydrant required that the water main be shut down. Even though water service has been restored to most customers, they are under the boil water order because the repair took about five hours. He said the county health department mandates testing of water when a water main has been turned off for more than four hours.
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. Testing of the water typically takes 72 hours.
Customers that have been affected are being notified by an automated phone system.
The boil water order is in effect for the following streets ONLY:
New City:
Scenic Vista Dr
Candlelight Cir
Sycamore Dr
Farview Ct
Buena Vista Rd
Beatrice Ln
Kingsland Dr
Annabelle Ln
Barbara Rd
Mc Leod Terr
Balter Rd
Nob Hill Rd
Dixwell Rd
Hobart Ct
Rodeo Dr
Rheinlander Ln
Gladys Dr
Louis Rd
Ramclark Ln
Old Phillips Hill Rd
Summit Dr
Red Rock Rd
Customers at the following addresses are also included in the boil water order:
New Hempstead Rd. from #318 through #379.
Pomona:
Trailside Place
Trails End
Trailside Court
Doolin Road
Sonata Street
Tempo Rd.
Conklin Rd
Revenna Dr
Tiffin Ln.
Carteret Dr
Marietta Dr
Leadore Ln
Gessner Terr
Skokie Ln
Neptune Ct
Wagon Wheel Dr
In an unrelated situation, some customera of Garnerville are also under a boil water order since Wednesday afternoon. The boil water order is in effect for the following Ramapo Road addresses: # 170, 172, 174 and 176.
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.
Goudesmith said water may be initially discolored when customers first turn on the faucet.
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 x 2225.
