The Town began the recent transition to the Catskill Aqueduct on May 1, 2019.  From that date until May 13th, water operations staff were assembled and the plant at Riley Road was serviced.  On May 13th, the Town began drawing water from the Aqueduct.  From May 13th until May 20th, the transition required a blending of water from the Butterhill Wells with water from the Aqueduct.  From May 20th until the present, the only water entering the distribution system and being provided to our residents has been from the Aqueduct.  The Town has not drawn from Brown’s Pond.

The Town is aware of certain odor and taste complaints with the water now being provided.  Any such issues are believed to be caused by the change in flow and treatment required to transition from the Butterhill source to the Aqueduct source.  Testing of the water is ongoing and will continue, as is required.  No safety issues have been identified.  

The Town has been flushing water through fire hydrants since June 17, 2019.  Flushing will continue through July 3rd.  This should alleviate most, if not all, of the current issues concerning taste and odor.

Please continue to contact the Town Attorney’s Office at 563-4630 with any further questions or concerns and thank you for your anticipated understanding.  

The Town of New Windsor Water Department will begin flushing fire hydrants on Monday,  June 17, 2019 and continue through Wednesday, July 3, 2019. Town residents and Stewart Airport occupants, as well as, the Fiirthcliffe Heights section of Cornwall may experience some water discoloration and low water pressure during this time. Please contact the Water Department at (845) 561-2550 with any questions or concerns. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Town of New Windsor has completed its transition and is now providing residents with water drawn from the Catskill Aqueduct. Please note, water from Butterhill Wells still remains in the distribution system and will require approximate one (1) additional week to work its way through.

There is no specific timetable for a return to provisions drawn from the Butterhill Wells. Discussions with relevant State agencies are ongoing to ensure a safe and adequate supply of water is available should the planned shutdown of the Aqueduct take effect in October and to ensure a safe and adequate supply of water is permanently available thereafter. 

Any questions or concerns should continue to be directed to the Town Attorney's Office by calling 845-563-4630

Since May 2, 2019, the Town of New Windsor has been working, in coordination with the State and County Departments of Health, to restart its water filtration plant at Riley Road in order to prepare it for the drawing and treatment of water from the Catskill Aqueduct for distribution it to its residents. On Wednesday, May 15th, the Town announced it has begun to introduce treated water from the Aqueduct supply into its distribution system. 

The transition from the Butterhill Wells back to the Catskill Aqueduct will be gradual. Over the next few days, production rates at the Riley Road filtration plant will increase, as production at the Butterhill Treatment Plant is decreased. The temporary change-over is anticipated to be complete by Monday, 5/20/19. However, depending upon where residents are located in the distribution system, they may notice this change much sooner. As the waters are blended in the distribution system, and the source of supply causes a change in direction of flow in some locations, there may be changes in the disinfection rates, which cause residents to notice discoloration and odors in the water. Please note, neither is an issue of concern in terms of safety and both issues are expected to resolve on their own within a few days.

On a parallel track, the Town continues to talk with relevant State agencies about treatment/filtration options in order to filter the low levels of PFOA and PFOS that were detected in the water from the Butterhill wells so that these wells can be brought back on-line. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the New Windsor Town Attorney’s Office at 845-563-4630 or the Orange County Department of Health at 845-291-2332.

The New York State Department of Health has advised the Town of New Windsor that low levels of PFOA and PFOS were detected in the Town’s Butterhill well location. The levels found are below the EPA lifetime health advisory and the NYS Drinking Water Quality Council’s recommended levels for such substances. Accordingly, the DOH says the water is acceptable for drinking.

Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution and in light of the precedent set when a similar situation arose with Kroll Well in 2017, the Town has decided to restart the Riley Road treatment Plant to begin using water from the Catskill Aqueduct. As soon as the Riley Road Plant is up and running, the Butterhill wells and treatment facility will be shut down until such time as the Town can be assured the water from these wells are non-detect for PFOA and PFOS.

On the left please see the April 4, 2019 NYSDOH letter with its test results under related documents. Also available under related documents are test results completed by the Town of New Windsor in May 2016, during the development of the Butterhill Wells; tests completed by the Town of New Windsor in in April, 2019, following receipt of the NYSDOH April 4th letter; and, a more detailed public announcement. Hard copies of these documents are available at the Town of New Windsor Town Clerk’s Office at 555 Union Avenue, New Windsor, NY 12553.

If you have any questions, please contact David Zagon, Town Attorney, at 845-563-4630