West Nyack, NY, Apr 11, 2008, 9:00 AM
Officials from United Water New York, the County of Rockland and Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory announced today a collaborative study of heavy metals and other constituents in the groundwater of Rockland County. The study will include the testing of wells located throughout the county, including those owned by both United Water and private property owners.
“We are pleased to work together with Rockland and Lamont-Doherty toward the shared goal of extending our knowledge of the county’s groundwater system,” said Michael J. Pointing, vice president and general manager of United Water. “At the conclusion of this study, private well owners and United Water will have a better understanding of the county’s groundwater and information that could aid in planning quality and supply projects.”
United Water regularly conducts tests of its water system on a wide number of constituents, including all of the heavy metals that will be examined in the study. Information about United Water’s comprehensive testing can be found in the company’s Annual Water Quality Report that is distributed to all customers in the spring of each year.
The groundwater study takes a more aggressive approach by testing eighty wells once quarterly over a four quarter period, including forty wells owned by United Water and twenty private well locations from the Montebello and Strawtown Road areas where traces of arsenic have previously been identified. The location of the remaining twenty wells will be determined jointly by the group.
“By performing this study we will be able to detect contamination in our water, which is crucial to the health and safety of our residents,” said County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef. “We thank United Water and Lamont-Doherty for their efforts in the study and await the results.”
In addition to examining the presence of arsenic, the study will include tests for manganese, iron, sodium, chloride, sulfate, phosphate, alkalinity, and nitrate/nitrite. At the conclusion of the study, the three parties will jointly prepare a summary of the results.
“We’re happy to work with United Water NY and Rockland County on water quality and supply issues of long-term interest to all of us in the region,” said Prof. H. James Simpson, a geochemist at Lamont-Doherty. The other two Lamont scientists on the project are Steven Chillrud and Stuart Braman, also geochemists.
Lamont-Doherty, part of Columbia’s Earth Institute, has extensive facilities located in Rockland County and scientists who have been involved in the study of groundwaters in many locales around the world.
“This type of collaborative effort is a good example of how we can solve problems together. I thank County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef for agreeing to devote considerable resources to the project and Columbia University for lending its renowned experts from Lamont-Doherty,” said Pointing.
About United Water
United Water provides water and wastewater services to 7.3 million people in the United States, including more than 270,000 people in Rockland and parts of Orange County. In addition to owning and operating regulated utilities, United Water operates municipal systems through public-private partnerships and contract agreements. Three of the nation's largest water and wastewater contracts are operated by United Water. United Water is a subsidiary of Suez, a global leader in energy, water and waste services that serves more than 125 million people worldwide.
Customers may receive more information by contacting United Water at 845.623.1500, by e-mail at uwnycustomerservice@unitedwater.com or by visiting the company’s website at www.unitedwater.com.