FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 15, 2011
Contact: Tom Staudter | ThomasS@westchesterlegislators.com | 914-995-2819 (office) | 914-815-4462 (cell)
Westchester Legislators Add New Castle Parcels To Sanitary Sewer District
Actions Bolster Environmental Safety Near Reservoirs
White Plains, NY – The Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) approved legislation this week to grant a number of property owners in the Town of New Castle inclusion in the Saw Mill Sanitary Sewer District. This action will bolster environmental safety near reservoirs used for New York City drinking water.
The vote, taken at the BOL’s regular meeting on Monday night, drew bi-partisan support.
“I’m grateful that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle recognized that it was time to stand up for fairness and the environment,” said Legislator Michael Kaplowitz (D-Somers), who chairs the BOL’s Environment & Energy Committee. “By rolling up our sleeves and working together, we were able to accomplish something that will benefit generations to come.”
In October, a number of residents of the Yeshiva, Riverwoods and Random Farms communities rallied in support of a petition submitted by the Town of New Castle to the County asking for the inclusion of 293 parcels in the Saw Mill Sanitary Sewer District.
“The property owners and residents in these affected areas in the Town of New Castle have waited patiently for this day to come,” said Kaplowitz. “Environmentally, this needed to be done, and the residents will also experience some financial relief as a result.”
The parcels are spread among the Town of New Castle, and the property owners have had to spend tens of thousands of dollars to deal with failing septic systems or build their own on-site systems to help mitigate discharge into the Croton Watershed. Meanwhile, partially-treated sewage continues to leach into the drinking water supply for not only Westchester residents, but residents of New York City as well.
The legislation passed thanks to a recent proposal by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to purchase County land and construct an Ultra Violet Treatment Plant at its own expense. The anticipated flow from the New Castle parcels of property into the Saw Mill Sanitary Sewer District is approximately 207,000 gallons per day. A total of $52.7 million will be spent on odor remediation on the project.
“This cooperation and assistance between governmental agencies sharing the same goals will be saving Westchester taxpayer dollars,” said Kaplowitz, who also noted that the County Executive and his Administration supported the legislation to help the New Castle property owners.
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Bazzo 12/16/11
