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CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. Despite the Croton Board of Trustees scheduling a special "water forum," to discuss possible additions to the Croton water supply, residents continue to express extreme concern about the measure during village board meetings.
The addition of the anti-corrosive, zinc orthophosphate, was dropped in 2007 after some village residents opposed the measure. The addition of the chemical would help stop lead from leaching into some village homes. The lead actually comes from lead solder which was allowed in the 1980s. The chemical would also help, though not entirely alleviate, the village's brown water problem.
"It's completely brown all the time," said Jeff LeFleur, a Wolf Road resident who was present at Monday's board meeting. "Four or five years ago the water was fine," said LeFleur, "it seems it really escalated in the last couple years," he said about the brown water problem at his home. LeFLeur also said he has purchased water filters for his home, "it's supposed to last three months he said," he also said the filters were brown "within three weeks."
The brown color is likely due to iron leaching into resident's water from extended contact with aging pipes. The village is facing several mandates including one from FEMA that pumping stations be above 100 year flood level. It also requires that village water have a longer chlorine contact time.
Residents who supported the temporary addition of an anti-corrosive chemical to Croton's water supply and residents who were against it, showed up to Monday night's board meeting, demanding action. At least one resident brought a clear bottle of water to the meeting, and explained why the board should not add anything to the water. Another expressed concern at what some reports, which said a decision on the matter could come in as little as six to eight weeks.
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