The federal government filed a civil lawsuit against Westchester recently, charging the county with violating the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The lawsuit charges that since April 2012, Westchester, through its Water District No. 1, has failed to comply with a Safe Drinking Water Act rule that requires municipal drinking water suppliers to treat all unfiltered surface water for cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that could potentially cause fatal gastrointestinal illness.
Peekskill officials say the the City of Peekskill's water is safe.
"The city maintains its own water source and supply," said Peekskill spokesman Bob Knight in an emailed statement. "Peekskill's treated water continues to meet all of the health department's stringent regulations."
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara detailed the nature of the charges recently.
“The federal Safe Drinking Water Act is designed to protect public health by requiring suppliers of water to take steps to prevent water-borne diseases from being transmitted to the public," Bharara said in a statement. "Westchester’s prolonged failure to comply with treatment rules designed to prevent cryptosporidiosis is unacceptable.”
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