Customers of Nyack’s Water Department are being cautioned to boil their water before using it for drinking or cooking, possibly for the next three to five days, because of levels of bacteria that exceed health standards, according to a notice by the village.
Water department crews, in response to the problem, are raising chlorine levels in the water at the Nyack treatment plant in West Nyack and they are flushing sections of the water system. About 15,000 customers—in Nyack, South Nyack, Central Nyack and the Palisades Center in West Nyack—are affected.
The boil water alert went out after a notice from the Rockland County Health Department today cited the Nyack Water Department for coliform bacteria found through routine tests of the water.
The water department recommends customers bring tap water to a rolling boil, boil for one minute, and cool before using. Or, use bottled water certified for sale by the New York State Department of Health. The department says boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and preparing food.
The alert also comes with an order from the Health Department for all restaurants served by the Nyack Water Department to comply with restrictions to safeguard the public. Measures mandated by the Health Department include:
- Turning off water fountains
- Turning off and cleaning ice machines, with only bagged ice to be used
- Bottled water must be used for food cleaning and preparation
- Beverage machines connected directly to the water supply must be turned off
- A notice must advise customers the tap water must not be consumed
Coliform bacteria, according to health officials, are naturally present in the environment and are an indicator that potentially harmful microbes may be present. Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms and may pose a special health risk for infants, some elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. But these symptoms are not just caused by microbes in drinking water, according to health officials.
The boil water advisory suggests that if you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you should seek medical advice.
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About coliform bacteria on Wikipedia.org
Water Alert Update — 6/23
by Village of Nyack's Website
June 23, 2011 — 7am
Here is the latest information on the Boil Water Alert within the Nyack Water District. All customers, including residents and businesses, within the Nyack Water District remain on a boil water alert. Water samples were taken from all six sampling sites (see below) in the Nyack Water District. On Monday, two of the samples were found to have the presence of the coliform bacteria, which resulted in the boil water alert. The Nyack Water Department is flushing its system and adding higher levels of chlorine to the water.
Follow up samples taken on Tuesday were sent to an independent lab facility and returned negative for the coliform bacteria. Results from samples taken yesterday should be available late afternoon/early evening today.
Updates will be posted on this site when available, likely in the late afternoon or early evening.The Water Department will also be giving a special report to the Board as the first item of business at tonight’s meeting of the Nyack Village Board, to be held at Village Hall starting at 7:30.
The boil water alert thus remains in effect until further notice.
The six sample sites are:
- Westgate — Nyack
- South Nyack Village Hall
- Nyack Village Hall
- Nyack College
- Nyack Hospital
- Mobil Station on Rte 303 in West Nyack
For further information consult the Village of Nyack's website or the Nyack Water Department at 845-358-3734.
See also:
