Water advisory update #10, Wednesday 2/12 4:30pm:
Residents are still advised to not use the tap water for drinking, cooking, or making ice. According to state and county officials, given the available information bathing, showering, washing your dishes or clothes is deemed okay at this time.
During the installation of our water plant’s new filtration system, we believe a third-party contractor damaged the fuel line to our treatment plant’s oil furnace creating a slow seepage leak into the ground approximately 500 feet from our reservoir #4 on the Mountain Rest Road water treatment plant property. We believe oil began to leak from the damaged line once heat was turned on this winter and oil seeped through the ground to the reservoir.
On Sunday, in order to identify potential sources of the problem reservoir #4 was bypassed and isolated. Our system shifted to using upland reservoirs 1 through 3. As of Wednesday we changed to exclusively use NYC DEP’s Catskill Aqueduct water. We can now utilize NYC water and/or reservoirs 1-3 as needed
Our community’s water is tested for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) annually per DEC regulations. Heating oil contains hazardous VOCs. Testing for VOCs last occurred on March 20, 2019 and was scheduled to be tested next month.
New Paltz has worked closely with NYS and Ulster County to return water service to our residents, businesses, and schools. Our community is incredibly grateful to Governor Andrew Cuomo, and the State and County officials who have exhibited exemplary responsiveness and support.
Free potable water will continue to remain available until further notice at village hall and at the Meadowbrook, Huguenot Park, and Town and County apartment complexes:
At village hall: bring containers to fill from a 6,000 gallon tanker at village hall (available 24 hours), and/or pickup of 5 water bottles per person or one case per household. Water bottle pickup is available until 9pm this evening.
At Meadowbrook apartment complex: there is a “water buffalo” with 500 gallons of water at near unit 512. Residents need to bring containers for filling and it will be available 24 hours a day.
At Huguenot Park apartment complex (45 N. Chestnut Street): there is a “water buffalo” with 500 gallons of water, enter at Front Street and drive to the back of the lot. Residents need to bring containers for filling and it will be available 24 hours a day.
At Town & Country apartment complex: there is a “water buffalo” with 500 gallons of water, it is in the center of the condo’s upper parking lots near the rail trail. If you enter at Front Street drive into the complex and at approximately 600 feet the tank is on the right by the gate. You can also enter from Huguenot Street: go up the hill and turn left and drive 200 feet. Tank will be on your left by the gate.. Residents need to bring containers for filling and it will be available 24 hours a day.
New Paltz Central School District: all schools are on usual schedule. More information can be found at www.newpaltz.k12.ny.us and parents are encouraged to check their emails for more information and any updates.
SUNY New Paltz: All classes have been cancelled through Feb. 15; Residential students (with some exceptions) are mandated to leave campus by noon today. More information can be found at www.newpaltz.edu and students are encouraged to check their emails for more information and any updates. SUNY New Paltz has advised that as a residential college with 3,550 students living on campus with 24 X 7 needs, the logistical demands of providing services are much greater: room and board, cooking, etc. In the school district, which this week is open for only two more days, with the state’s help, it is much more manageable to provide resources to students for six hours a day.
These alerts are being made available on our website and social media and to media outlets throughout the region. You can also look for Twitter updates from the Town of New Paltz Police Department. Please pass this information on to your neighbors or any households you think might not have access to this information.