Lowering lake level should protect dam and prevent possible PFOS leakage
NEWBURGH – The State Department of Environmental Conservation will lower the water level at Washington Lake to prevent PFOS contamination from reaching the Quassaick Creek watershed in the event of an extreme weather event.
In a letter to Newburgh City Manager Michael Ciaravino on Monday, DEC
Deputy Commissioner of Remediation and Materials Manager Martin Brand
said the state agency will treat the water to remove the PFOS to avoid
contributing contaminants to Silver Stream.
The work, performed by a DEC contractor, was to begin on Monday.
Ciaravino was concerned that any spill over the Washington Lake dam could erode and weaken the structure.
Earlier this month, the state declared the Air National Guard at Stewart Airport a state Superfund site to expedite and streamline the approval process for the work at Washington Lake.
