originally posted on May 2, 2016

TOWN OF NEWBURGH – The City of Newburgh’s main water supply, which straddles the towns of Newburgh and New Windsor, is contaminated leading City Manager Michael Ciaravino to declare an immediate state of emergency until further notice and he ordered the use of Washington Lake for city water discontinued immediately.

The chemical, Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) has been detected in Silver Stream and Washington Lake, posing “a potential threat to public health and safety.” The source of the contamination was not immediately known.

Ciaravino’s emergency order said that although the levels of the chemical are below the levels recommended in a health advisory by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the state department of Environmental Conservation and Health recommended that steps to be taken “to reduce or eliminate the compound” from the water system.

As a result of the discovery, the city manager has ordered that use of water from Lake Washington be discontinued until further notice. In the meantime, the city’s water supply will be drawn from Brown’s Pond and the Catskill Aqueduct until further notice.
As a result of the state of emergency, water conservation measures have been put in place.

Published restrictions on water use include:

• The serving of water at a food service establishment, except at the specific request of a patron.
• The use of water for washing of paved surfaces, including but not limited to streets, roads, sidewalks, driveways, garages, parking areas, tennis courts and patios.
• The use of water for nonagricultural irrigation and watering of lawns, flower gardens, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs or other outdoor plants.
• The use of water for ornamental purposes, including but not limited to fountains, artificial waterfalls and reflecting pools.
• The use of water for noncommercial washing or cleaning of automobiles, trucks, trailers or any other vehicle.
• The use of water from a fire hydrant, except for fire-fighting or public health protection.
• The use of water for flushing of sewers or hydrants, except as deemed necessary for public health and safety.
• The use of water for watering or sprinkling any portion of a golf course, except for greens.
• The use of water or steam for the cleaning of buildings or any other structures’ exteriors.
• The use of water for the operation of ice-skating rinks.
• The use of water for the commercial washing or cleaning of automobiles, trucks, trailers or any other vehicle by facilities which do not recycle water.
• The use of water for the filling or the operation of a swimming pool, partly artificial swimming pool, bathing beach or any swimming facility under permit pursuant to Part 6 of the New York State Sanitary Code, which is not open to the general public.
• The use of water in a residence in excess of 50 gallons per resident per day.
• The use of water in a commercial or industrial facility in excess of 75% of said user’s average daily consumption for the immediately preceding 12 months.
• When the immediately preceding 12 months’ daily average consumption for said water is not available, the average daily water consumption of said user for the 90 days immediately preceding the declaration of Stage II emergency shall be used.
• The use of water for residential agricultural purposes and golf course greens.
• The use of water for the filling or operation of a swimming pool, partly artificial swimming pool, bathing beach or any swimming facility under permit pursuant to Part 6 of the New York State Sanitary Code.
• This prohibition shall include but not be limited to the use of water for the filling or the operation of any swimming facility under the control of any governmental subdivision.