76°
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. Water was a major source of discussion during Wednesdays Board of Trustees work session, with the village discussing some possible projects it will be looking at.
One of the discussions revolved around a request for the village to look into bringing the Tarrytown lakes back into service as a water source.
A request has been received from the Lakes Committee for the village to evaluate the cost of filtering the lakes water verses purchasing NYC water, Blau wrote in an email. There has been no decision as to whether it would be done. We will be evaluating the numbers.
Currently, the village gets its water from New York City and pumps it into their system. Putting the lakes back into service would mean the old Eastview pump station would have to be renovated and a filtration system would need to be installed. Eastview was taken out of service in 1990.
Village Administrator Michael Blau noted during the meeting that with the additional charges from the Town of Greenburgh and New York City, Tarrytown residents would be seeing a water rate increase of about 1.7 percent. Blau noted that in the past 15 years, New York Citys water rates have actually gone up over 400 percent.
The village deconsecrated the Eastview pump station when New York City water rates were dirt cheap and it was economically sensible to make the switch. But officials discussed during the meeting how the water rates have skyrocketed in recent yearsa 12.9 percent increase in 2010, a 12.9 increase in 2011 and an approximately 8 percent increase in the rates that have just been announced.
Tarrytowns water usage has also gone up tremendously, according to officials, which to them means the time is right to look at whether or not they should bring the lakes back into service. Officials said they want the village to conduct a first-stage feasibility study on the issue.
Blau reminded the board that the village had only gotten out of a deficit in water two years ago, after they had been spending more money on water than they were charging residents.
Blau reiterated during the meeting that the village would be analyzing the numbers surrounding the issue before taking action.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Tarrytown-SleepyHollow and receive free news updates.
