UDC opposes new water tap

By DAVID HULSE

NARROWSBURG, NY — Admitting they were likely to lose their protest, the Upper Delaware Council on November 6 approved a letter objecting to new drinking water supplies being taken from the Catskill Aqueduct in Orange County by the Village of Kiryas Joel.

Kiryas Joel is located in the watershed of the Hudson River, but legislation that allowed construction of the New York City Aqueduct early in the last century also provided that communities along its track could have access.

“The UDC is concerned that the cumulative effect of the new connections into the New York City water supply system…will ultimately mean more demand for Delaware River watershed water, making less water available for the Delaware River as it flows downstream…” the council stated in a letter to the village.

“This is another demonstration of the political clout that community has,” said Cochecton’s Larry Richardson.

Highland delegate Lew Schmalzle was concerned that other communities would tap into the planned 27-mile pipeline. “This could become a cash-cow and there isn’t always going to be as much water in the reservoirs as there is now,” he said.

Westfall delegate Allan Bowers was concerned about environmental preparations for the project. “The [environmental impact statement] doesn’t ever consider impacts to the Delaware River watershed and it must…. The issue is not just Kiryas Joel. If the water is available, it’s going to encourage growth where there should not be growth,” Bowers said.

Water tapped from the aqueduct would be charged against New York City’s daily withdrawal allotment, but officials were concerned that the allotment would be increased if demand required it. “X-number of years from now, they will exceed the limit and what do you think will happen then? They’ll get it changed,” said chair Bruce Selneck of Shohola.

“I don’t think you could fantasize a nightmare strong enough to visualize what this could be in years to come,” Selneck said.

Council staff and members planned to attend a scheduled public hearing on the project EIS at the Kiryas Joel village hall at 10:30 a.m. on November 14.