UPDATE 2: New Paltz Municipal Water (serving the Town & Village)
Saturday AM, July 19, 2025
– A precautionary Boil Water Notice was issued Friday evening, 7/18/25 (UPDATE 1)
– The coliform standard was NOT violated but some total coliforms were identified at 4 out of 8 sample sites tested on Thursday, 7/17/25
– The coliform hit was for total coliforms, and not E. coli.
– Total coliforms are a broader group of bacteria found in the environment, while E. coli is a specific type of fecal coliform bacteria.
– Eight sites were sampled on Thursday, 7/17/25
(Trailways Station, Village DPW Garage, Stewarts, Huguenot St Sewer Plant)
(Village Hall, Sunoco at 131 Main, Gulf at 160 Main, My Market)
Hits for total coliforms occurred at the first four listed sites, but not the second four.
– All eight sites had appropriate levels of chlorine residuals (all over 1.0 mg/Liter at the time samples were taken on 7/17)
– Turbidity and chlorine levels are tested every four hours at the water treatment plant.
– Chlorine, PH, and turbidity levels are tested daily, Monday through Friday, at different sites throughout the Village’s conveyance system.
– More organisms live in water with higher turbidity, and therefore chlorine becomes less effective as a disinfectant.
– Our muni water is legally required to be disinfected with chlorine and the chlorine residuals need to be traceable – between 0.2 and 4.0 parts per million (mg/Liter). Ours is generally < 2.0 mg/Liter.
–Turbidity levels have averaged 0.02 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) since the water treatment plant was updated with a $5.5M microfiltration system in 2019. The EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is 15x greater than our average, at 0.3 NTUs.
–The Town of New Paltz’s licensed operator sampled for total coliforms and E. Coli at Tops Supermarket on Tue, 7/15/25 and there were no signs of total coliforms or E. coli.
– By Saturday AM 7/19, Village DPW staff flushed various lines throughout the system using hydrants.
– 12 location sites are being resampled both today (7/19) and will be again tomorrow (7/20). We will provide sample results for today by end of day Sunday and Sunday’s results on Monday.
– The County Dept of Health will assess sample results before removing the Boil Water Notice.