WHAT’S WRONG WITH UNITED WATER’S PROPOSAL TO DESALINATE HUDSON RIVER WATER FOR ROCKLAND COUNTY?

A Forum with Expert Panelists, followed by Q & A

Thursday, February 23^rd, 7 pm

Pre-event letter writing session, 6:30 pm

Location; Clarkstown Town Hall

10 Maple Avenue, New City

The Rockland Water Coalition has come together in opposition to United Water’s proposal to desalinate and treat Hudson River water for Rockland County’s water supply.  We are also working together to create a sustainable water plan for the future.

The Coalition includes most of the environmental groups and many other citizen groups within the county, working together with major regional environmental groups such as Citizens’ Campaign for the Environment, Clearwater, Riverkeeper, and the Atlantic Chapter of Sierra Club.  (For a complete list of groups, see below.)

We oppose the Haverstraw Desalination Water Supply Project for the following reasons:

ESCALATING COSTS

If this proposal is approved, Rockland County residents and local businesses will be permanently locked into higher water bills. Desalination is an energy intensive technology and costs will escalate as energy costs rise.  In addition residents will forever pay capital expenses for United Water’s construction (currently projected at between $139.2 to $189.3 million.) According to United Water’s advertising, the project would bring in new tax revenues.  In fact, those new tax revenues would be generated by higher water rates for everyone.   We also question how many permanent jobs the plant will create. 

OVERDEVELOPMENT & FLOODING

With its endless supply of water, the proposed plant would trigger rapid development, altering forever the character of our communities.  The desalination plant would clear the way for a level of development that would also add to the already disastrous flooding in the region as remaining natural areas are paved over. 

PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS

The desalination plant would be sited only 3.5 miles downstream from the aging Indian Point nuclear plant, which is increasingly leaking radioactive tritium and strontium-90 into the river.  Both tritium and strontium-90 have been found in the pilot plant test water in low levels. While strontium-90 is supposed to be removed by reverse osmosis, tritium cannot be removed by desalination.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

The proposed plant would be sited in Haverstraw Bay, the most highly rated “Significant Coastal Fish & Wildlife Habitat” in the Hudson River Estuary. The plant would:  1.) Imperil the irreplaceable fisheries of Haverstraw Bay and coastal fisheries 2.) Lock us into an energy-intensive technology when we should be decreasing energy use, both because of climate change and the need to close down Indian Point. 3.) Significantly increase air pollutants, including greenhouse gas emissions;

UNNECESSARY

The Rockland Water Coalition supports the development of sustainable water strategies.  We believe that the potential for wastewater reuse merits further independent study.  We also call on the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation to do a thorough review of water releases from Rockland’s Lake DeForest reservoir to New Jersey, releases that are in excess of the amount stipulated in legal agreements.  We question whether Rockland residents and businesses will end up paying higher water rates for desalinated water, while more of Rockland’s freshwater will go to United Water’s New Jersey customers.

THERE ARE BETTER CHOICES

Sustainable water strategies can strengthen our economy while protecting our environment. We call on Rockland County to adopt a water management policy that includes: better coordination of land-use planning, an active program to preserve open space, green infrastructure to reduce flooding and increase recharge of aquifers; and an energetic program of water conservation and efficiency.  Finally, Rockland County must face the fact that limits to development, based on sustainable use of resources, are essential if we are to avoid the social, economic, and environmental costs of desalination.

Join the Rockland Water Coalition in opposing this proposal as harmful to the environment, unsafe, expensive, and unnecessary! 

We call on Rockland County to move ahead with sustainable alternatives that will support our local and regional environment, our economy, and help protect the character of our communities.

To join the Rockland Water Coalition: contact PKurtz9(at)gmail(dot)com