Politics & Government

Orangetown Residents Call for Issues Conference on Desal Plant

The Town of Stony Point Town Board unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday calling for the state to give Rockland County an Issues Conference to look more closely into United Water's proposed Haverstraw Water Supply Project.
The resolution refers to the independent study by EcoNorthwest, which was retained by the Rockland County Water Coalition. EcoNorthwest called into question United Water's financial information an the cost of the proposed desalination plant.
Stony Point is the first of Rockland County's towns to pass such a resolution. Residents came to the Orangetown Town Council meeting Tuesday to call for Orangetown would join them.
"Too much is at stake not to take another look at the numbers and benefits of moving forward with the desalination plant," said Anne Putko of Piermont. "We do not see the need to move forward with something that could be so harmful to our habitat and impact the pocketbooks of so many of us."
Michael Mandel of Pearl River spoke in favor of the resolution calling for the issues conference, which would not cost the town money, and challenged the members of the board to state their positions on the matter. Orangetown resident Larry Vale said high water bills are already an issue in Rockland County.
"They have gone up every single year for years and years," Vale said. "This is an excuse to really make them go up. The people in Albany who make this decision should know the people of Orangetown do not want this."
The issue also came up at the previous week's town board workshop. It will be on the agenda for the workshop meeting May 21. Orangetown Supervisor Andy Stewart said if the resolution is defeated, he was concerned that it would send the wrong message to the state. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation would have to call for the Issues Conference. 
"The board discussed it and drafted a resolution. It would be on the agenda if I thought it would pass," Stewart said. "That's where it stands now."Councilman Tom Diviny said it was important that the issue be on the agenda for discussion before it comes to a vote. He also asked Stewart to reach out to United Water so the board can hear their side. 
"It wasn't on the agenda last week for discussion," Councilman Tom Diviny said. "I would like the Supervisor to reach out to United Water."
The primary concerns raised in relation to the desalination plant are the potential costs passed along to United Water customers and whether or not it is necessary to meet Rockland County's water needs.
George Potanovic, Jr., a member of the Rockland County Water Coalition, questioned United Water's motives, claiming that it will raise water rates to pay for the desalination plant, then send more of Rockland County's fresh water supply to customers in New Jersey.
"With the Town of Stony Point adoption of a resolution on the need for an Issues Conference, the town board recognizes that Stony Point and Rockland County taxpayers and rate payers deserve full transparency concerning the real cost of our drinking water and full transparency of significant need issues," Potanovic said. "This is a transfer of cost issue that raises significant unanswered questions as to whether desalination is really a good economic deal for Rockland County residents and businesses."
Another question raised about the desalination plant is the potential high energy demand. 
"I know how seriously this proposal needs to be reevaluated," said Laurie Seeman of the Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance at Tuesday's Orangetown meeting. "What stands before us is a monumental decision that will be irreversible. It struck me how irreversible this is. This is not putting in a mall or even the Tappan Zee Bridge. This is vital to our drinking water supply."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here