State Will Examine Controversial Desalination Plant Plan

United Water's proposed plan for a desalination plant along the Haverstraw shoreline will see a new set of eyes—the state's.

The New York State Public Service Commission announced Thursday it will be examining the water company's proposal, which would install infrastructure to transform Hudson River water into drinking water.

Officials with the commission said their attention and duties lay with assessing Rockland's water needs.

"Our investigation will allow us to account for new information or changed circumstances, and to determine whether continuance of safe and adequate water service in Rockland County requires the development of a major new water supply source," said Garry Brown, the commission's chairman.

United Water's push for a desalination plant—a controversial idea that has dominated Rockland's imagination for years—is based on projections that the county's water demand will surpass supply come 2015.

Now, the commission is swooping in to determine if the need remains.

"The Commission will require [United Water] to provide a report of the most current information relating to the need for a new water supply source," commission officials said.

United Water provides nearly all Rockland municipalities with water for drinking and firefighting, the exceptions being Nyack, South Nyack and Suffern. The utility company has about 73,000 customers in Rockland, serving approximately 87-percent of residents.

The desalination plant project would equip the county with a pumping station and treatment plant, and deliver up to 7.5 million gallons of water to Rockland customers daily.

State officials said the next step will be United Water providing the commission with an updated report of water demand. The state will also host public hearings.

Preliminary planning and research for the desalination plant have lead to United Water rate hikes in recent months, the most recent being a possible price uptick announced earlier this month.

Rockland County leadership recently filed a request to the New York State Public Service Commission for "party status"—if granted, Rockland's county-level goverment would play a more active role in affecting rate hikes.

"It is very important that the County of Rockland be involved in the
[commission's] hearings and fully represent the residents of Rockland County who are customers of United Water New York," said C. Scott Vanderhoef, Rockland's county executive. "Party status will allow us to submit expert testimony in upcoming hearings regarding the rate increase."