Water advisory update #8, Tuesday 2/11 6:05pm:
Residents are still advised to not use the tap water for drinking, cooking, or making ice. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution. According to state and county officials, given the available information bathing, showering, washing your dishes or clothes is deemed okay at this time.
Our licensed water operator and state officials have taken samples of water in numerous locations at the treatment plant and throughout the system. The NYS DOH and DEC are currently investigating reports of a sheen identified this morning at the village reservoirs on the Mountain Rest Road water treatment plant property. The state has expedited the testing and we continue to expect results tomorrow. The timeline for getting the system back online will remain unknown until we have more specific information about any potential contaminants. 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.
Residents can continue to pick up water at multiple locations:
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.
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: we are currently setting up a “water buffalo” with 500 gallons of water, enter at Front Street and drive towards the reserved spaces. Residents need to bring containers for filling and it will be available 24 hours a day.
New Paltz Central School District: all schools will reopen on the usual schedule tomorrow. 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 as of 3:30 p.m. today through Feb. 15; Residential students (with some exceptions) are mandated to leave campus. 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 6 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.
We have also been asked who is on the response team, as well as who is in charge. It has been all hands on deck from all levels: local, county, and state. The response team includes Village and Town governments; Village Department of Public Works (DPW), Building Department and Fire Department; Town of New Paltz Police; New Paltz Central School District; SUNY New Paltz; NYS State Police; Ulster County DOH and Emergency Services; NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Department of Health (DOH), Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and the Governor Cuomo’s office. The village is in charge assisted by all the other agencies. According to Mayor Tim Rogers, “Navigating this water emergency with this help from the NYS DEC, Ulster County Emergency Services, NPPD, NPFD, County DOH, State DOH, the Governor’s office, State Police, NP’s DPW, Building, and Fire Depts, and the NYS Div of Homeland Security & Emergency Services has made me think we’re still lucky working on a problem like this because we’re here in New York State.”