Voice Your Opinion on Proposed Desal Plant
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United Water New York is forging ahead with plans to construct an expensive and environmentally destructive desalination plant on the banks of the Hudson River, just downstream of the leaking Indian Point nuclear power plant, to provide drinking water to Rockland County residents. The company recently submitted a proposal to the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) for a 23% rate hike, which would allow future surcharges to ratepayers for costs related to the proposed desalination project.
Riverkeeper has strongly questioned the need to construct a new $100 million dollar (and growing) desalination plant, especially due to the wide range of reasonable alternatives available to meet Rockland County’s water needs. Riverkeeper has advocated for full consideration of various alternatives including conservation, Ambrey Pond, additional groundwater supplies, re-use of wastewater and grey-water, harvesting more of the County’s 44 inches of annual rainfall as well as other Green Infrastructure techniques, use of Suffern Quarry, and increased supply from Lake Deforest. And yet, while a full environmental analysis of impacts and alternatives is still pending with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, United Water continues to assume that a desalination plant is necessary and inevitable, at the expense of the community.
Let your voice be heard on this important issue! The PSC is accepting public comments through Saturday May 15, 2010 on United Water’s rate hike proposal. You can fill out an online PSC Comment Form available at http://www.dps.state.ny.us, call the 24-hour toll free “Commission’s Opinion Line” at 1-800-335-2120, or mail written comments postmarked by May 15, 2010 to:
Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling
Secretary
Public Service Commission
Three Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12223-1350
Make sure to refer to the PSC Case name/number: “Case 09-W-0731 United Water New York Rates.” United Water’s proposal is available on the PSC website.
Additional Resources:
United Water New York’s Proposed Desalination Plant
www.sustainablerockland.org.
