Rockland County faces increasing water demand that exceeds its sustainable supply. United Water NY proposes a desalination plant on the Hudson River in Haverstraw to produce 1.5 million gallons per day initially. Desalination is expensive and energy intensive, and the plant's waste may increase river contamination. Alternative options like developing other sources or implementing further conservation measures deserve further consideration given the plant's high costs and environmental impacts. Local governments and citizen groups have opposed the plant due to these concerns.

1. Rockland County Water: Alternatives for Supplying Demand Sally Haas LAI531 April 18, 2010

3. Number of Housing Units: 99,324

4. Land Area: 174.22 square milesHudson River

5. Rockland Water Supply Rockland County Water Supply Sources United Water NY 90% Small Water Companies 7% Private Wells (6,000 - 8,000) 3% United Water NY Water Supply Sources Lake DeForest 37% Alluvial well fields (includes Ramapo and Mahwah Valley well fields) 31% Bedrock wells 32% Lake DeForest

6. Groundwater supplies 61% percent of the drinking water to Rockland County. This come from wells located in the southern 2/3rds of the county Surface water supplies 39% percent of the drinking water to Rockland County including Lake DeForest, the Hackensack River and the Mahwah River.

7. Water Supply Peak Supply is the volume available over a few days Rockland County peak supply capacity is 44.5MGD (million gallons per day) with an additional 3MGD possible 2006 Average sustainable supply was 32-34MGD Factors limiting supply: Close spacing of production wells NYSDEC limit allocation permits De Forest Lake withdrawal limits and treatment capacity Periods of low precipitation Development (sewage treatment and storm drainage) decreases recharge

8. Supply and Demand 2006 Average sustainable supply 32-34MGD Peak supply 44.5 MGD with 3 MGD available Actual average daily demand for 2005 was 31.06 MGD 2010 estimated daily demand- over 33 MGD with summer peak of 49MGD.

9. Other Potential Sources of Water A new reservoir at Ambrey Pond Desalination of brackish Hudson River water Additional groundwater supplies Reuse of wastewater Increased use of Lake DeForest Use of the Suffern Quarry.

10. Short-term Projects Update Letchworth Water Treatment Plant- 2MGD Sparkill Well Field Clean-up- 0.5 MGD New wells from purchase of existing private wells-1-1.5 MGD Divert water from Potake Pond to Ramapo River to maintain levels in dry conditions Store Lake DeForest spill during wet conditions Reservoir at Ambry Pond-NYS has not permitted new damn Divert flood waters from Ramapo River to Suffern Quarry-not pursued.

11. Conservation Measures Limiting Demand by Conservation is desirable Can’t be counted on Can’t be legislated Limiting development-non adherence Personal efforts Fix leaks Low volume toilets and restrictive shower heads Low capacity washer and dishwasher Limit use-turn off faucets

12. Desalinate Hudson River Water In September 2007 United Water submitted a proposal to build a pilot desalinating plant to be built in Haverstraw, NY.

13. The Salinity Gradient The table on the right shows salinity data in parts per million (ppm) for various points along the river measured on Oct 12, 2006. 4 Points and their salinities are illustrated on the map. Haverstraw is marked.100 ppm is considered drinkable. Mile 55 80 Mile 40 1600 X Mile 25 5180 Mile 0 26,000

14. Factors Affecting the Salinity Salinity fluctuates with the tidal cycle; peaking with high tide, dropping at low tide Precipitation Rainfall has a strong and delayed affect on salinity Data from Beczak Environmental, Yonkers, NY; River Mile 18

16. Salinity of 100 ppm is considered drinkable

18. Costs for Reverse Osmosis Desalinator Capital costs Membrane life Energy for desalination process Chemicals treatments through out the process Distribution Packaging and transportation Or infrastructure Waste disposal

19. The proposed plant will cost between $80 and $100 million Energy consumption: 4427-6520 kilowatt hr/million gal. Compared with 250-3500 kWh/Mg for traditional treatment facilities Estimated initial production 1.5 mgd Need distribution to existing infrastructure Waste to be processed through the Joint Regional Sewage Treatment facility Based on video There is 30% recovery of intake. The rest is processed as waste. Haverstraw Project

20. Haverstraw Site The proposed site in Haverstraw is unused land owned by US Gypsum (produce wallboard and construction products) Located across from Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Potentially radioactive contaminants not removed by desalinator Towns of Ramapo and Stony Point have passed resolutions opposing desalination facility due to proximity to Indian Point and costs. Not likely to run full-time only during low tide-related low salinity More efficient, more costly not running at capacity No mention of renewable energy sources like solar or wind Some high salt waste water will backwash into the Hudson bringing other concentrated contaminants (PCBs)

21. Working Desalinators Worldwide Majority and largest are in the Middle East and North Africa The largest is in Israel Evaporation or distillation most common method There are 18 in the US California, Texas, Arizona, and Florida Reverse Osmosis most common February 2010: Solar panals for Swansea, MA plant to provide 1/6th-1/4th of energy Australia is the only one using energy from a renewable source

22. Benefits of Desalinator On December 14, 2006, the New York Public Service Commission granted United Water New York permission to raise its rates for three years in a row, starting with a 23% hike in 2007. UWNY charged with plan for sustainable solution resulting in proposal for Haverstraw desalinator in January 2007. Benefits cited over developing reservoir at Ambrey Pond include: drought tolerance; perceived dam safety concerns from local neighbors; plant expandability; permitting requirements; complexity of construction; and cost.

23. Impressions Need to increase supply Desalinator to supply 2 MGD by 2015 increasing in phases to 7 MGD Current peak demand is 49 MGD Are there other alternatives that have not been considered or have been prematurely discounted? Withdraw further up river closer to salt front Ambry pond and Suffern Quarry

24. Future for Desalinator Technology should be developed Improvements to decrease costs Sustainable energy Waste utilization

25. Water Policy and the Public United Water has filed the proposal with the State A number of Town Hall Meeting are to be Scheduled January 12, 2010—No follow-up reports April 22, 2010—Public Hearing on Proposed (21%) Rate Hike Citizen Action Groups: Sustainable Rockland Includes: Sierra Club and Food and Waterwatch Resolutions Opposing Desalinator Project Towns of Stony Point and Ramapo

26. References Company files plan with new york state public service commission Retrieved 4/19/2010, 2010, from http://haverstrawwatersupplyproject.com/the-news/3-newsflash-2.html Haverstraw water treatment plant - water technology Retrieved 4/19/2010, 2010, from http://www.water-technology.net/projects/haverstraw-treatment/ Hudson river desalination - citizens campaign for the environment Retrieved 4/19/2010, 2010, from http://www.citizenscampaign.org/campaigns/hudson-river-desalination.asp Is the hudson too salty to drink? data puzzle number 4. Retrieved April 18, 2010 New york state | map-NY Retrieved 4/19/2010, 2010, from http://www.nysegov.com/map-NY.cfm?gameMode=on Swansea's desalination plant going green - taunton, MA - the taunton gazette Retrieved 4/19/2010, 2010, from http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/business_news/x1468647563/Swanseas-desalination-plant-going-green United water new York’s proposed desalination plant | riverkeeper Retrieved 4/19/2010, 2010, from http://www.riverkeeper.org/campaigns/river-ecology/waterfront-development-review/united-water-desal/ United water sites long-term water supply project in town of haverstraw Retrieved 4/19/2010, 2010, from http://haverstrawwatersupplyproject.com/the-news/4-united-water-sites-long-term-water-supply-project-in-town-of-haverstraw.html Vanderhoef, S.State of the county address. Retrieved 04/18, 2010, from http://www.co.rockland.ny.us/Executive/Documents/ExecAddress2010.pdf Water supply - desalination Retrieved 4/19/2010, 2010, from http://superfund.ciesin.columbia.edu/Rocklandwater/supply_desal.html Water supply - planning Retrieved 4/19/2010, 2010, from http://superfund.ciesin.columbia.edu/Rocklandwater/supply_planning.html Water supply - planning Retrieved 4/19/2010, 2010, from http://superfund.ciesin.columbia.edu/Rocklandwater/supply_planning.html#shortterm