The Village of Pelham’s Public Water Supply, # 5911901, is a municipal water distribution system.  We purchase all of our water from United Water New Rochelle (UWNR) a private enterprise that in turn purchases its water from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP).  The Village of Pelham currently operates under a Filtration Avoidance Waiver that applies to the NYC DEP and UWNR.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) have determined that the New York City Croton Aqueduct water source requires filtration.  UWNR uses the Croton Aqueduct water source for approximately five percent (5%) of our supply.  It obtains the remaining ninety-five percent (95%) of our supply from the New York City Catskill and Delaware sources, which do not require filtration.  New York City is proceeding with the design and construction of a filtration plant for Croton system water, pursuant to the terms of a November, 1998 Federal Court Consent Decree, entered into with the United States and the State of New York.  The Consent Decree, as modified in May, 2002, requires the City to evaluate and choose between three potential sites for the filtration plant:  two in the Bronx, at the Mosholu Golf Course or along the Harlem River in the vicinity of Fordham Road, and one at Eastview, on the border of Mount Pleasant and Greenburgh in Westchester County.

Depending on where the filtration plant is built, the Village of Pelham may or may not benefit from this filtration.  However, UWNR has entered into a stipulation agreement with the NYS DOH.  This agreement requires UWNR to eliminate the Croton Aqueduct water source and obtain a new source of supply to replace it.  The proposed source is an expanded connection to the New York City Delaware Aqueduct supply.

Although the Croton water source is not filtered, the NYS DOH has determined that operating this supply poses no unreasonable health risk due to the carefully applied and monitored disinfection process.

The NYS DOH sets drinking water standards and has determined that the presence of microbiological contaminants is a health concern at certain levels of exposure.  The greatest risk has been identified to the very old, very young, and immuno-suppressed.  If water is inadequately treated, microbiological contaminants may cause disease. Symptoms may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea and possibly jaundice, and associated headaches and fatigue.  These symptoms are not just associated with disease-causing organisms in drinking water but may be caused by a number of factors other than your drinking water.  The NYS DOH has set enforceable requirements for treating drinking water, including filtration and disinfection to remove or destroy microbiological contaminants.  These reduce the risk of these adverse health effects.

Because of the assurances provided, the NYS DOH believes it is unnecessary for consumers to take additional precautions with respect to the drinking water provided by United Water New Rochelle. 

If any further information is needed please contact the Village of Pelham Water Department at 195 Sparks Avenue, Pelham, New York 10803, phone (914) 738-2015 or the Westchester County Health Department Bureau of Public Water Supply at (914) 813-5000.

© 2004 Village of Pelham. All rights reserved