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EPA, U.S. Attorney Sue Westchester Over Drinking Water

tap water
William Warby, flickr

A U.S attorney and the Environmental Protection Agency are suing Westchester County.

The U.S. has filed a civil lawsuit against Westchester for allegedly violating the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The lawsuit alleges that the county’s Water District Number 1, which supplies water to residents in such municipalities as Scarsdale, White Plains, and Yonkers, fails to fully treat a significant portion of its water for the parasite cryptosporidium, which can cause gastrointestinal illness. A county spokesman says Westchester has been working with federal officials and has come up with a remedy but could not meet a deadline. He says the water is safe. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction and fines of up to $37,500 a day.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press and WAMC.

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