WALTON – The New York City Department
of Environmental Protection has increased releases from its Cannonsville
Reservoir as repairs are made as the result of an ongoing turbid discharge
from a rock embankment below the Cannonsville Dam.
The increased drinking water diversions have been implemented as an abundance
of caution, DEP officials said.
The turbid flow below the dam was discovered when workers were drilling
borings in preparation for design and construction of a hydroelectric
facility to be build there. During the drilling, workers noticed a flow
of turbid water coming from a rock embankment near the release chamber.
Work was halted immediately.
A preliminary investigation indicated the drilling released groundwater
under natural pressure several dozen feet below surface level, causing
an upward flow of water and sediment that is reaching the West Branch
Delaware River.
