'Water hammer' blasts open pipes, shuts down water plant in New Windsor
Cleanup is underway in New Windsor after a series of unfortunate events led a water pipe to explode, taking a water plant offline.
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Cleanup is underway in New Windsor after a series of unfortunate events led a water pipe to explode, taking a water plant offline.
Town officials are now imposing water usage restrictions on businesses and residents while they regroup, and repair the plant.
Town Supervisor Steve Bedetti shared video of the moment a 36-inch pipe at the Butterhill Water Treatment Plant was blown apart, along with several other pipes that attached it to a filtration system.
During a special town board meeting Tuesday morning, Bedetti told his colleagues that on Aug. 4, a bird flew into Central Hudson's electricity infrastructure causing the power at the plant to flicker on and off.
Bedetti said that fluctuation seemed to trip up the plant's generator and computers, keeping the pipes from accepting water from surrounding wells.
A nearby well that did not lose power sent water rushing to the plant where it hit a closed valve creating hydraulic shock, also known as a "water hammer."
"All these valves were shut, not calling for water," Bedetti explained during a brief tour of the damage at the Butterhill plant. "Meanwhile, the well was still sending water here, and it caused this water hammer."
Bedetti estimated the repair could cost up to $1 million and take up to two months.
Until then, the town is buying water from neighboring municipalities that draw from the Catskill Aqueduct to make up for the loss of water from the Butterhill plant.
The town is also declaring Level 1 water usage restrictions.
According to town code, under Level 1 restrictions, residents may not wash cars nor water lawns with hoses; pools may be topped off but not filled from empty; water-intensive businesses must reduce usage by 15%; and restaurants cannot serve tap water unless it is specifically requested.
Jose Marcelino, of Marcelino's Restaurant, said the staff will comply and find other ways to conserve, "because we don't want to be running water all over, and later not have water for anything."
Others are more concerned about the residential restrictions and their water rates.
"It takes me about three hours to water all my gardens," Diana G, a resident and restaurant employee said. "I'd just really like to know what they're going to do about it, and will it cost us, the people who live here, more money?"
Bedetti said his team is keeping receipts for all costs associated with the repairs and the extra water the town has been buying.
In all, the town could end up spending $3 million.
Bedetti hopes the town's insurance company covers it entirely.
Another water plant in New Windsor that treats and delivers water from the Catskill Aqueduct is online and was unaffected by the electricity fluctuation.
