Water Department Says No Significant Contamination In Ramapo River

Mahwah water wells that were after a fuel spill in Rockland County, NY during Hurricane Irene have been reopened, Town Council President John Roth said at Thursday night’s Town Council meeting.

“The consensus opinion is that the large flood volume of water during the storm flushed the vast majority of the petroleum product downstream. Although there may be some residual surface and shoreline contamination, the aquifer 100 feet below the surface has not been affected,” the township announced on its website Thursday.

The announcement also said that the township’s water department will continue to test the water supply.

Residents can return to normal water usage, Roth said. The township had asked residents to conserve while the wells were closed.

However, he said, some residual fuel deposits may be left on properties where flooding occurred.

“The NJDEP working with the NYDEC and with the responsible party have engaged an environmental contract to clean up the residual petroleum material on affected properties,” the township announcement said.

Residents who have residue on their properties are asked to call the Mahwah Police Department at 201-529-1000 to get information about getting it removed.

Roth said the fuel cleanup will be at no cost to Mahwah residents.

“The responsible parties will be paying the cost [of the cleanup],” Roth said.