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The Chronicle > News
Sharing the water wealth: County proposes regional loop
Published: November 13, 2009
Chester — Hudson Valley has long been known for its abundant water supply. It has enough to supply New York City. Right?

Actually, in recent years Goshen, parts of Blooming Grove and Chester, Middletown and Washingtonville have all had water problems. With the economy creeping back up, and developers showing their wares again, the county is proposing countywide improvements in infrastructure (including “water loops”) for both water and sewer services for the 816 square miles for which it has primary responsibility.

In last year’s State of the County speech, Ed Diana said, “The best and the only way to achieve the goals in the (county’s) master plan is to develop regional water and wastewater systems.”

In September, the county planning commissioner, David Church, presented the legislature’s Physical Services Committee with a draft of the water authority’s new master plan.

It is a massive document with a wealth of information, maps and resources about the county’s water resources, collected and reviewed in a series of regional seminars of the Moodna Basin. But some legislators are wary of towns giving up home rule to the county about a resource they hold near and dear. Church gave them assurances the water authority will not plan any changes to a municipality’s water system without their full participation and agreement.

He cautioned that a list of municipalities have been desperately asking for help with shared water projects. “Don’t doubt for a minute that moving forward this is going to be important,” he said. “You need it to survive. You can’t live without water, and right now a bottle of water costs more than a bottle of gasoline.”

He presented the water master plan for their review, and given its size, predicted it need a month or two for study. After that it will be posted online and presented at public hearings and possibly a public information session.

The water plan is a part of the county’s new Master Plan that concentrates on aquifer protection, sewer provisions and affordable housing, but it can and probably will be reviewed and voted on separately.

Concerned about the potential for abuse of power, legislators asked county attorney David Darwin if the water authority had the legal right to impose their decisions on a municipality. He said “Yes, but they wouldn’t do that.”

Further, they have the ability to bond without legislative approval. Delving into the voluminous document (available now at http://waterauthority.orangecountygov.com) critics found the standard — but also disturbing wording that they do have the authority to do whatever is necessary for the health and welfare of residents, and to override a municipality if necessary.

Even legislative Chairwoman Roxanne Donnery was skeptical, recalling fees her own district in Highland Mills were charged for a water loop to provide for Woodbury.

“We were taxed without receiving any benefit,” she said.

Sheila Conroy, a former supervisor of Woodbury who is a member of a citizens committee arguing against the amendment agreed, said that when she was supervisor it became very difficult to balance the budget because of hidden fees — including a lawsuit Woodbury was not even aware they were involved in.

“We don’t need a water czar,” she said.

But from the county’s perspective, there is great pressure to centralize for the sake of efficiency and cost savings.

They have an overwhelming responsibility to account for welfare of the county’s citizens. Poor functioning of sewer and water plants puts their citizens at risk. Even routine maintenance is made easier when one of these water loops makes it possible for a town to borrow from a neighbor while their own tank is repaired. But many think that upgrades can be made without a new document that gives belt and suspenders to the powerful authority the county already has.

“Don’t doubt for a minute that moving forward this is going to be important,” he said. “You need it to survive. You can’t live without water, and right now a bottle of water costs more than a bottle of gasoline.”’

David Church, planning commissioner

“This sets a legal precedent and we have to look at it carefully,” Donnery warned.

Another legislator said he would want it in writing that the county would not take any action without participation and agreement by the municipality. Sheila Conroy, Robert Fromaget of Democratic Orange; Lorraine McNeill, former Woodbury councilman; and Jonathan Swiller, chairman of OCEAN are calling for an oversight committee such as Rockland County has found to be helpful. Fromaget pointed out in particular that even the mayors of Washingtonville and Blooming Grove disagreed with the water and sewer figures in the plan that might justify creating a loop to the already stressed Cornwall wells.

A presentation on the Moodna Creek Conservation and Management Plan will be given at the Blooming Grove Town Hall at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30. The water authority has given Nov. 30 as a deadline to submit questions and comments.