RUSHVILLE — Village residents can once again drink public water.
The state Department of Health lifted its do-not-drink advisory related to Rushville’s public water supply.
A toxin found in blue-green algae, microcystin, no longer exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory level in water delivered to consumers.
Testing completed Friday and Saturday returned results of less than 0.3 micrograms per liter in finished water, below the EPA’s 10-day advisory level of 0.3 micrograms per liter of microcystins for bottle-fed infants and children younger than 6.
Thursday’s test results of 0.66 micrograms per liter of microcystins in finished water exceeded that advisory level, but were below the EPA’s health advisory level of 1.6 micrograms per liter for individuals not included in that group.
However, as a precautionary measure, the state recommended to all consumers that they not consume water, and worked with county and village officials to provide bottled water for the extent of the advisory.
Additional samples of Rushville’s water will be collected and sent to the Wadsworth Center, the Department of Health’s public health laboratory, for analysis to confirm that microcystin levels consistently remain below the EPA’s 10-day advisory level.
Information about blue-green algae and related toxins can be found at www.health.ny.gov/HarmfulAlgae.
Residents with questions or concerns can call the following numbers for assistance: Ontario County at (585) 396-4343, Yates County at (315) 536-5160, or the village of Rushville at (585) 554-3415.
Additionally, the state Department of Health’s Geneva District office can be reached at (315) 789-3030, or phone the Department of Health’s Bureau of Water Supply Protection at (518) 402-7650.