Still salty

By DAVID HULSE

NARROWSBURG, NY — Despite their continuing efforts, Tusten officials say it will probably take several years for the excess sodium in two of the town water wells to clear up.

Narrowsburg Water and Sewer District Superintendent Ron Schalck reported that the latest sampling, in November, showed that samples from shallower wells #1 and #2 continue to show sodium levels in excess of state limits for persons on severely restricted, low sodium diets.

The state calls for a maximum of 20 milligrams per liter. The wells sampled at 46 and 52 milligrams per liter, respectively.

Narrowsburg’s third well, a deeper well, is unaffected and sampled at 7.2 milligrams per liter.

In his report, Schalck told the town he is required to notify the local physician about the sampling results.

The salt problem first appeared in 2000’s samples, but became an issue last summer when the state directed the town to take curative action.

Tusten has since purchased a magnesium-chloride spreading unit to replace salt spreading for highway ice removal on the Narrowsburg flats, where drainage has always been a problem. Still, Councilman Charles Knapp admitted on January 13, “It’s probably going to take years before it’s cleared up.”

In other business, on Monday the town board heard Highway Superintendent Skip Feagles detail recent multiple repair problems to the snow plowing fleet and particularly severe damage to one of the town’s large trucks, which prompted the January 6 emergency purchase of an additional used truck for $19,500. An insurance settlement of close to $16,000 on the damaged vehicle will offset the cost, Supervisor Richard Crandall said.

The town board reorganized for 2003 before the regular monthly meeting. One of the few changes was the appointment of Ned Lang to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Crandall announced he the scheduling of dedication ceremonies for the Tusten Veterans’ Memorial Park at 2:00 p.m. on May 26.