Rockland Residents' Input Needed At Water Conservation Workshop

NEW CITY, NY — The Rockland County Task Force on Water Resources Management is holding a public water conservation workshop March 7. Residents, business owners, leaders of advocacy groups and the like are invited.

The workshop will feature a brief presentation by Jacobs Civil Consultants, Inc., the Manhattan-based company hired by Rockland County to help it develop a Comprehensive Water Conservation Plan, and then discussion of findings and suggestions.

The overall effort is being led by the Rockland County Task Force on Water Resources Management, which is chaired by County Legislator Harriet Cornell. She and County Executive Ed Day have issued an invitation to local leaders and invite anyone who is interested in participating.

Jacobs made an introductory presentation to the Water Task Force in October to explain how it would move forward, including what components it would research to help develop the plan.

On March 7, company representatives will offer some suggestions on how to proceed, and that’s where the public’s opinion is needed.

Residents and business leaders will be able to break into groups to discuss the possibilities and make recommendations on them. They’ll hear about how Rockland uses water and the possible ways to conserve it.

“Many people are unaware of just how much water can be saved through simple changes,” Cornell said.

Cornell said that as a county, the whole community needs to determine what the changes could be, and how much water could be saved, as well as how much money consumers and businesses could save.

The workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to noon March 7 at the Fire Training Center, 35 Firemen’s Memorial Drive in Pomona. Refreshments will be available.

Contact Pam Sitomer at SitomerP@co.rockland.ny.us for more information and to RSVP.

About the Rockland County Task Force on Water Resources Management:

• Formed in June 2014 following successful grassroots effort to halt construction of expensive & energy-intensive water treatment plant proposed by what was then called United Water New York. Would have drawn its supply from the Hudson River.

• New York state Public Service Commission held hearings in Rockland in October 2013 on whether plant was needed. Legislator Cornell, then Chair of the Legislature, laid out a plan for a government-community Task Force to take charge of Rockland’s own water future, exploring alternate ways of conserving water. In December 2015, the PSC ordered Suez Water (formerly United Water) to abandon the project.
• The Task Force is devoted to identifying ways to implement meaningful reductions in the amount of water used in Rockland, including boosting conservation and reducing water loss due to leaky pipes and fixtures.
• The Task Force has worked with experts to bring key reports on various aspects of Rockland’s use of water and the existing infrastructure; the possibilities for green infrastructure throughout the county; flooding issues; and the management of the county’s many watersheds.
• The Task Force has also successfully advocated for New York State Division of Building Standards and Codes changes to require the use of more water efficient appliances, including toilets and faucets to cut down on water consumption; and to have Rockland County commit to the goals of the new standards through the amendment of the County’s procurement law to require the purchase and installation of water efficient plumbing fixtures in County facilities.