Newburgh was placed under a state of emergency Monday after officials learned the city’s drinking water source was contaminated. In addition, water conservation measures are in effect.
City Manager Michael Ciaravino says the state of emergency was declared because of the discovery of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) in Silver Stream and Washington Lake, the main source of drinking water for Newburgh. Ciaravino says the city’s water supply will be drawn from Brown’s Pond and the Catskills Aqueduct until further notice. The Environmental Protection Agency has identified PFOS as an emerging contaminant of concern. Ciaravino says although the detected levels are below levels recommended in an EPA health advisory, the state’s Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health recommend that the compound be reduced or eliminated.
