Toxins in new well prompt New Windsor to switch water supply

An Orange County town is facing a water crisis after toxins were found in its new drinking supply.

News 12 Staff

May 3, 2019, 6:48 PM

Updated 1,812 days ago

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An Orange County town is facing a water crisis after toxins were found in its new drinking supply.
New Windsor found PFOS and PFOA in the water at their new Butterhill Well.
That well has been in use for the past year since the toxins traced to firefighting foam at Stewart Air National Guard Base were found in their old water supply. 
Town officials say the levels are still low enough to be considered safe, but that they're switching to the Catskill Aqueduct to be safe. Newburgh switched to the Catskill Aqueduct in 2016 after unsafe levels of the toxins were found in their reservoir at Lake Washington.
Environmental attorney Kimberlea Rea called it a “very prudent decision” by the New Windsor Town Supervisor George A. Green and Town Board to take “decisive action.”
Town officials say it’s not clear how the town is going to pay for the clean water it needs or the filtration system they will have to install to use its main well again. They say legal action against Stewart and the federal government is being considered.


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