Potable water trucked into Catskill as advisory continues

CATSKILL―Nearly 7,000 gallons of drinkable water has been brought in on a tanker for Village of Catskill water users who have been under a boil water advisory since the massive rainstorm late last month.

The truck, parked in the back lot at Dutchman’s Landing Park, is available daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for those impacted to take up to five gallons each day.

The Village and Greene County Emergency Services partnered with New York State Homeland Security and Emergency Services to supply the 6,700 gallons of potable water until municipal water is deemed safe to drink.

The boil water advisory, issued on July 29, affects all water system users in the village, Jefferson Heights, Leeds and South Cairo.

“We have the largest reservoir out of all surrounding municipalities,” the Village stated Monday. “We received 11 inches of rain at the plant in under five hours really mixing things up.”

According to the Village, the Water Department must get the turbidity― cloudiness or haziness―of the water under New York State’s required amount and keeping it there for six tests.

“From there the system will need to be flushed for several days and then have more water testing to be complete before the [State] Department of Health gives us the ok to put everyone back online,” the Village stated.

Water Superintendent Craig Rowell said they will begin flushing the entire system at 7 a.m. on Tuesday.

“This will continue each day until the system is flushed out. The entire system may experience low water pressure and some turbidity in the water over the next few days,” said Rowell.

“This does not mean we are lifting the boil water advisory but starting the next steps in the process of the water testing,” he emphasized. “At this time the boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice.”

“We appreciate your patience and will continue to work to get the advisory lifted,” Rowell said.