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In Valatie, state offers overdue water/sewer aid

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VALATIE—At the regular Village Board meeting Tuesday, June 14, Mayor Frank Bevens discussed a state program the village is involved in to help residents pay their water and sewer bills. The mayor said he has posted information on the village website (www.valatievillage.com) about the state’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).

LIHWAP can assist households who have past due bills for water and sewer services. “LIHWAP is a benefit based on the actual amount of water and/or sewer arrears, up to a maximum of $2,500 per water or sewer provider, or $5,000 if water and sewer services are combined, per applicant household,” according to the state. Information is at otda.ny.gov/programs/water-assistance/

Mayor Bevens pointed out to the board that the state directly pays the village for the past due bills. The village has dealt with past-due water and sewer bills for years.

To be eligible, benefits are based on: income, household size, and amount owed to water and/or sewer provider.

Water quality report

The mayor also announced the Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2021 was now available. The report says that all levels of chemicals tested “were within acceptable limits with the exception of third quarter PFOS samples from well 1.” That well was taken out of service and the village is currently working with their engineer and the county Department of Health (DOH) on a “long term solution.”

Earlier this year, the county DOH reported that separate water supplies, one serving Valatie and the other the New Lebanon School District, had been found to have levels of PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) that exceed the state maximum contaminant level.

As a result of routine testing in October of 2021, village well 1 had tested at a level of 14 parts per trillion (ppt) with the state’s mcl set at 10 ppt. It was immediately taken off line with two other wells providing water for residents (see “PFOS found in water supplies in Valatie and New Leb,” February 10 issue of The Columbia Paper).

The new annual report also shows levels of copper from “corrosion of household plumbing system” in the system. The report says that the “levels detected and reported in drinking water are derived from samples taken from individual homes and businesses.” The levels for copper are at AL (Action Level), which means “the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements…” and later in the report, it reads, “The Valatie Water System is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components.”

The report is also on the village’s website.

To contact reporter Emilia Teasdale email eteasdale@columbiapaper.com

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