A State of Emergency has been declared in the City of Newburgh due to the discovery of a contaminant

[In_The_Wind]

Eyewitness News
Updated 25 mins ago
NEWBURGH, New York (WABC) -- A State of Emergency has been declared in the City of Newburgh due to the discovery of a contaminant in the water.

The State of Emergency was declared due to the discovery of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) in Silver Stream and Washington Lake. It can pose a potential threat to public health and safety. PFOS has been identified by EPA as an emerging contaminant of concern.


http://abc7ny.com/news/state-of-emergency-in-city-of-newburgh-due-to-contaminated-water/1319587/

[djean111]

1. Just think - the TPP/TTIP will strip away as many regulations and environmental protections as they

can, because profits trump EVERYTHING.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. If I recall, we have DUers in or around Newburgh

Hope that they're doing okay. Thanks so much for posting this...

[Victor_c3]

3. I'm one of them

I live about 5-10 minutes away in Cornwall. Fortunately my water comes from well water.

It's funny that I learn these sorts of things first from DU and not the authorities.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Yikes! I knew that we had DUers in the area!

Glad to know that you're not affected! I guess DU provides more than one helpful service and that it does pay to be an informed Democrat on the Internet!

Thanks for checking in! I hope that your neighbors are okay, as well.

[Zoonart]

5. WOW

I live just about 15 miles SE of Newburgh in Carmel, NY. I too, get my water from my well... but the aquifers are all connected and who knows what seeps in and from where.

Thanks so much for posting this.

Be well neighbors.

[In_The_Wind]

15. Looks like we have more than a few DUers down here.

Now, we're being told: this problem has been going on for years.

[Thespian2]

6. Thanks for this...

I find DU provides more in-depth news than any other site...Hope everyone in Newburgh will be safe...we will be traveling through up-state New York in a few days...

[tk2kewl]

7. I was curious about what the source might be so...

Is there a 3M factory in the area?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfluorooctanesulfonic_acid

[In_The_Wind]

13. If there is, I can't find it.

[Autumn Colors]

8. Oh f......

I grew up there and have family in the Town of Newburgh (separate from the City of Newburgh). I wonder if this affecting private wells, too? Will pass this article on and tell them to get their well water tested immediately.

[In_The_Wind]

10. If it leaches into the aquifer we're all in for some rough days ahead.

I'm 15 miles north of Newburgh.

[Divernan]

9. "an emerging contaminant" - emerging from WHERE?

Since New York has banned fracking, at least we don't have to wonder if it's one of those super-trade-secret toxins used in fracking. But although New York has banned fracking there's still the issue of disposal wells for fracking water. I know a lot of fracking waste water was being trucked across the Pennsylvania border into Ohio for disposal.

[Autumn Colors]

11. I just looked at a map

... because even though this is where I grew up, I had no idea where these lakes were. My parents' house (and their well) is less than a mile from one of the contaminated lakes (Washington Lake). My brother, lives right by Brown's Pond (where they're going to get water from for the time being).

These two water sources (the contaminated one and the emergency water source) are only a mile away from each other .... and the contaminated stream is less than a mile from Browns Pond.

[In_The_Wind]

12. News at noon said the condition has been going on for years.

I hope you and your family will be ok.

[Autumn Colors]

16. Oh wow ...

I haven't lived in Newburgh for 30 years but my family has.

[In_The_Wind]

17. Six o'clock news cancelled the SoE but they knew about the problem two years ago.

[felix_numinous]

14. K&R

Wow I hope they find the source quick. Ecological destruction is a crime.