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“The commission is obligated to ensure that all regulated water systems provide safe and adequate service at just and reasonable prices,” said commission chair Audrey Zibelman. “Upon investigation, it was determined that the Forest Park Group failed to provide safe and adequate service to its Putnam County customers, and it lacks the capacity to provide such service going forward. Therefore, Suez Water is appointed as temporary operator.”
The Forest Park Group provides metered water service in 14 separate non-contiguous water systems to about 980 customers in the towns of Carmel and Southeast in Putnam County and the Town of Lewisboro in Westchester County. The companies include Northeast Water Services, Forest Park Water Company, Inc., Hilltop Meadows Water-Works Corp. and Misty Hills Water Corporation.
The action by the commission came after department staff, working with local officials, had to step in late last week to restore water service to nearly 200 Forest Park customers who had lost water service. At the request of Department of Public Service staff, Suez Water visited the impaired system on Friday, June 24 to investigate its condition, and provide technical and financial support in restoring the system to full operation. Suez Water has since informed staff of multiple deficiencies with the Forest Park, including a failed well pump, non-payment of vendors and an inactive customer service telephone number.
Given the current state of the Forest Park Group, it was determined that the owner failed to provide safe and adequate service and lacks the necessary technical, financial and managerial ability to do so.
The commission has authority to appoint a temporary operator for a water utility with less than 1,000 customers when, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, the commission finds that the utility either: failed to provide safe and adequate service; lacks necessary technical, financial or managerial ability; or actually or effectively abandoned the system.
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