Rockland: No immediate hazard from chemicals in water

Concentrations of chemicals found at two Haverstraw locations are higher than federal drinking water standards but do not constitute an immediate health hazard, according to the Rockland County Health Department.

Levels of trihalomethane, a byproduct of disinfecting water by using chlorine, exceeded standards at the two spots. Both involving treated water from Lake DeForest. That reservoir supplies about 30 percent of the water Suez uses to provide drinking water to its 300,000 Rockland customers.

Average trihalomethane levels at the two spots were 80.6 parts per billion and 84.2 ppb, slightly above the 80 ppb standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to Suez.

Suez spokesman Bill Madden said the levels were a 12-month average compiled from testing at 13 locations. He said the company has been flushing hydrants and using more groundwater and less surface water in the affected area since mid-March and will do follow-up testing in June.

Source: http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/2016/04/06/rockland-chemicals-water/82711172/