Boil Water Alert

Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011
Contact: Diane Galusha, Middletown Information Officer;
845-586-4973; cybercat@catskill.net

Boil-water order continues in Margaretville, Arkville

MARGARETVILLE, Sept. 3, 2011 – Nearly a week after Tropical Storm Irene caused severe flooding in the Village of Margaretville, a boil-water order is still in effect for Margaretville and Arkville residents and businesses.

Henry Friedman, Village Public Works Superintendent, and Terry Johnson, Arkville Water Superintendent, advise residents to boil water for 3 to 4 minutes to kill any organisms that may have infiltrated the system when a main beneath the Swart Street bridge broke.

Water samples must be tested twice, and results of the second test are expected by Wednesday, when the boil water order may be lifted.

A hydrant in the Binnekill parking lot also broke, creating a fountain in the midst of the flood.

Leak detection equipment brought in by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection did not find any other leaks in the water supply system, Friedman said.

In Arkville, the water system was in the process of being updated when the flood struck. Damage to work that had been done will be repaired by the NYS Department of Transportation, according to Johnson.

No problems have been reported with the Fleischmanns municipal water system. Questions may be directed to:

Henry Friedman, Margaretville DPW superintendent at 845-586-4418;
Terry Johnson, Arkville water superintendent  at 845-586-4945,
or Mike Myers, Fleischmanns DPW superintendent at 845-254-5514.