By Order of the Commission

On December 14, 2006, a New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) order adopted a three-year rate plan for United Water New York. The Joint Proposal¹ that was signed and adopted as part of the order and reaffirmed by the PSC in 2010, requires United Water to, among other things, develop an additional, sustainable water supply to meet the growing needs for water in Rockland County over the next 20 years.

The PSC and the parties to the Joint Proposal found that it is in the best interest of United Water’s customers and for the company to develop new sources of water supply for Rockland’s growing population that has grown 9% since 2000 and, according to the Rockland County Planning Department, is projected to reach 344,000 or more by the year 2035.

¹The parties to the Joint Proposal are: United Water New York, PSC Staff, the Town of Ramapo, the County of Rockland, the Rockland County Fire Chiefs, then Rockland County Legislator and now New York State Assembly Member Ellen Jaffee, and others.

A Two-Phased Approach

To meet projected future needs for water, United Water has established a two-phased approach. Phase I is currently increasing capacity by continuing to encourage conservation, making improvements to existing infrastructure and developing new, small supplies. This program will help to meet projected demands for water through the end of 2015.

Phase II will enable United Water to continue to provide a high-quality water supply at quantities and pressure necessary to meet Rockland’s growing water needs that are projected to reach an average of 34.5 million gallons per day by 2016 (These projections were developed in cooperation with the Rockland County Department of Health.).  A new, long-term supply will provide up to an additional 7.5 million gallons of water a day for County residents, businesses, and firefighting needs.

The Best Alternative

Environmental experts and engineers evaluated numerous sources of supply in Rockland, considering the reliability of the sources, environmental impacts, cost and engineering feasibility. They have determined that the Hudson River is the best solution to provide a new, resilient, cost-effective and healthy source of water.