Saugerties declared a public emergency to expedite urgent repairs to the Bluestone Park Water District Pump House, which serves about 70 people through 30 connections.
The Town Board’s vote on Wednesday aims to speed fixes that include the replacement of a storage tank whose roof collapsed some years ago. The town pledged $25,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds, which must be spent by the end of the year, and the Bluestone Water District will issue a bond to help cover the $80,000 project.
“We have been trying to replace that tank for quite a long time,” said Town Supervisor Fred Costello. The project will be completed by Dec. 31.
The repairs include fixing a leaking storage tank under the pump house and upgrading inoperable well pump and climate control systems. The town engineer still needs to assess the damage and determine the extent of repairs precisely how much it will cost, Costello said.
“The functionality of the pumps and the control systems that run those pumps are being controlled manually right now, which put a strain on our systems mechanically, and those need to be remedied ASAP,” said Town Board member Mike Ivino, the liaison to the Saugerties Water and Sewer District.
While the water delivered to the district is drinkable and meets all guidelines, Bluestone Water District residents have long experienced cloudiness compared with other areas in Saugerties.
“The surface water that’s in Bluestone Park is collected very close by, so there’s a lot of opportunity for organic contact, and that influences the taste,” Costello said.
Residents in the district will still have access to drinkable water while the repairs are made, which are projected to be completed before the end of the year according to Ivino.
Intermittent shutdowns to the Bluestone Park District water supply are possible while the project is underway, Ivino said. A boil water advisory will be issued to the community via the town website and Facebook page in the event of exposure to contaminants, he said.
Isabella Schoonover is a staff reporter for The Overlook covering Woodstock, Saugerties, Hurley, and surrounding Ulster County communities. Send correspondence to isabella@theoverlooknews.com.
