FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2005

LAST NIGHT’S RAINSTORMS BRIEFLY RAISED TURBIDITY IN SOME DRINKING WATER

All Westchester’s drinking water back to normal today

Following heavy rainstorms last night in the vicinity of the Kensico Reservoir, there was a brief period of elevated turbidity detected in the drinking water in some Westchester areas: southern Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Greenburgh, and those communities served by the Westchester Joint Water Works. However, here is no need for Westchester residents to take any precautions today.

Westchester County Department of Health was notified of the excess turbidity by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection after the turbidity had passed through the reservoir system last night.

“For a period of about forty-five minutes, in the early evening last night, the drinking water leaving the Kensico reservoir experienced increased turbidity,” stated Westchester Health Commissioner Joshua Lipsman, MD, MPH. “Excess turbidity may impact the effectiveness of chlorination and increase the risk of certain diseases, such as giardiasis or cryptosporidiosis, in immune-compromised patients.

Although the impact of elevated turbidity in water last night is considered minimal, the Health Department, in consultation with New York State Department of Health, is providing this information out of an abundance of caution so that persons who are more vulnerable to gastrointestinal illness, especially parasitic diseases, such as the very young, the elderly, pregnant women and those with immunocompromising conditions talk to their medical providers about the advisability of routine use of boiled water or bottled water, or if they experience gastrointestinal symptoms.

For information contact the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000 or visit www.westchestergov.com/health.

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