Rockland Asks NY Public Service Commission To Review Suez Merger

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — A merger between two massive international water companies could affect Rockland's water supply, and County Executive Ed Day has requested a review of the proposed acquisition of Suez Water NY by Veolia.

Day wrote to the New York State Public Service Commission to request the PSC determine if it is in the best interests of Rockland County ratepayers.

“According to the 2017 “Drinking Water Systems in New York” Report by the Office of the New York State Comptroller, Suez Water NY’s ratepayers pay some of the highest costs in New York for their water," Day said in the letter. "These rates must not be allowed to climb further as residents contend with the rising cost of living in New York due to myriad factors."

He also asked that the state Department of Public Service study the feasibility of municipalizing all or part of Suez Water NY’s Rockland assets and operations.

"However, I have specific concerns about this possibility related to the impact on municipal and school property tax bills, the cost of future infrastructure improvements including the cost of meeting PFOA/PFOS drinking water standards and the total cost of purchasing Suez Water NY assets," he said.

In 2020, SUEZ started work on a multi-year upgrade at its Lake DeForest Treatment Plant to address water quality issues, including taste and odor which emerged in 2019 due to a significant algae bloom in the reservoir. Ozone and powdered activated carbon are the treatments that are planned. The plant treats water from the 6-billion gallon reservoir that serves 100,000 customers in Rockland.