'Do Not Drink' Advisory Lifted For New Paltz

NEW PALTZ, NY — The "do not drink" advisory has been lifted for water in the Village of New Paltz, Town of New Paltz Water Districts and SUNY New Paltz. The village posted a notice on its website early Friday morning.

"Please continue to notify the Village of New Paltz if you have any concerns or notice anything unusual with the water as we return to normal operations," the notice said. "Thank you all for your patience and understanding during this time."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office said sampling by the state Department of Health shows no detectable levels of petroleum compounds.

However, residents are being asked to flush their plumbing to remove old water.

"Following swift deployment of state resources and the isolation of the contamination source, our extensive testing shows no detectable levels of petroleum compounds in the New Paltz water system and that the water is safe to drink," Cuomo said in a prepared statement.

The contamination was found to be coming from a compromised underground fuel line for the village's water treatment plant heating system.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation Spill Response experts are overseeing the cleanup of the spill that affected Reservoir No. 4. The village is bypassing this reservoir during the clean up.

Alternate sources of water, including tankers and pallets of bottled water were available during the ban on consumption.

The public school system was supplied at least two days of water by the state and was able to remain open. Students are not in class Friday because of a previously scheduled superintendent's conference day. Monday is a federal holiday, so all buildings are closed.

SUNY New Paltz canceled classes and asked resident students to leave the campus for most of the past week.

The university sent an advisory Friday saying that all classes will resume Monday. Card access for residence halls will resume at 10 a.m. Sunday. Regular dining services will resume Sunday.

A complete dining schedule from Campus Auxiliary Services is forthcoming, and a message regarding class make-ups will come Monday, the school said.

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