Politics & Government
City Of Peekskill: Water Department Update - June 16, 2021
The Water Department has received numerous complaints of discolored water from throughout the city. Although a nuisance, it does not pre ...
June 16, 2021 - 1:57pm
The Water Department has received numerous complaints of discolored water from throughout the city. Although a nuisance, it does not present a health risk as long as the density of suspended particles in the water, or “turbidity”, stays within acceptable limits. City water is safe to drink and use for cooking and bathing. There is no “boil water order”.
Find out what's happening in Peekskill-Cortlandtfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Below are the actions we have taken:
1. Increased frequency of turbidity testing at treatment plant from every four hours to hourly, to better track the issue. This testing shows turbidity continues to be higher than normal, but within health standards, ie, at or below .2 NTU (Up to 1.0 NTU is allowed by the Dept of Health). The water system is currently finding test results within safety standards for bacteria, Ph, and residual chlorine.
Find out what's happening in Peekskill-Cortlandtfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
2. Televising of pipes connecting treatment plant clear wells to the water system to identify possible locations of breaks.
3. Bringing in a diver to check water storage tanks for cracks or leaks.
4. Monitoring of reports to the Water Dept - if you notice discolored water, you may call the Water Dept at 914-734-4110 or email the Senior Office Asst via the Water Dept webpage at https://www.cityofpeekskill.com/water-and-sewer.
5. Investigation of properties where complaints exist.
It is important to maintain turbidity levels within safe limits because high turbidity can reduce the effectiveness of chlorine, the chemical used to kill bacteria. For this reason, in addition to the aesthetics of discolored water, the Water Department is using all its available resources to address the turbidity issue.
All residents should register for the city’s “Code Red” system to be effectively notified in the event a “boil water” order becomes necessary. To sign up, go to the City website home page and click “Code Red”.
This press release was produced by the City of Peekskill. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
