NEWBURGH – US Senator Charles Schumer wants the Department of Defense
to investigate the source of contamination of Newburgh’s water supply,
Washington Lake. Mayor Judy Kennedy relayed the senator’s announcement
to the Monday night city council session.
Two chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, have been identified in the lake, causing
the city to switch over to its Brown’s Pond backup supply.
If those chemicals originate from the New York Air National Guard Base
at nearly Stewart Airport, the senator would want the government to pay
for the cleanup.
Brown’s Pond is rapidly being exhausted and the city will have to
switch over to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s
reservoir, which will be an expensive proposition. City Manager Michael
Ciaravino wants to start the process of drilling wells to draw water from
the city’s aquifers.
While the emergency situation continues, the city will remain under a
conservation effort, which includes no watering of lawns and flowers and
washing of cars. Residents could collect rain water in buckets to water
their outdoor flower, Ciaravino said.
In a related issue, it is unclear if Masterson’s Pond, which feeds
the lake, has high levels of the dangerous chemicals. While fishing is
allowed in the pond, City Ciaravino said he will impose a catch-and-release
policy for people who fish there until it is determined if the fish are
safe to consume.
The city manager also announced that the US EPA will provide an independent
contractor to conduct an informational meeting in Newburgh in the near
future to explain to city residents the water situation and remedies.
