Don’t drink the water from Washington Lake, the city’s now offline main water supply
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate approved the $45 million sought for the Air Force and National Guard to make payments to reimburse local communities around the country, including the City of Newburgh, for the cleanup of PFAS contamination due to air Force- and National Guard-related activities.
The New York Air National Guard Base at Stewart Airport has been identified as the culprit of the contamination of the City of Newburgh’s former water supply, Washington Lake, and nearby streams.
Mayor Torrance Harvey said federal funding for a cleanup is welcomed news.
“When we talk about clean water, clean air and environmental things that are needed and are necessary for our human survival, I don’t think of anything less,” Harvey said.
Newburgh continues to get its drinking water from the New York City Catskill Aqueduct with the state picking up the tab and city officials recently said they want to abandon Washington Lake completely and stay connected to the aqueduct.
