Update: Advisory Lifted, Water Safe to Drink

Update, 4:13 p.m.

Nyackers can go back to drinking their tap water without worry of harmful bacteria.

The Water Department recently received results on its second round of tests, and nothing was found amiss, allowing the Rockland County Department of Health to lift the warning. It is no longer required to boil water before consuming it or using it to brush teeth and wash dishes.

Check back soon for more information.

Original story (Thursday morning)

Nearly 48 hours after it was first announced, remains in effect—residents are still being urged to boil tap water before drinking, and the Rockland County Department of Health is suggesting bottled water be used to brush teeth and wash dishes.

when the Nyack Water District found coliform bacteria in water samples. Coliform bacteria can give way to harmful microbes that cause nausea, diarrhea and other maladies.

The water district is currently flushing the system and pumping in more chlorine to combat the harmful microbes. Officials said the current rain will have no bearing on the process.

To lift the advisory and return to normal, the Nyack Water Department must take two clean water samples 24 hours apart. Tuesday's samples have already been processed by a lab and deemed safe.

A reverse-911 calling system will be used to notify residents when the advisory has ended, said Jen Laird-White, a Nyack trustee. The system was used to notify residents of the advisory earlier in the week, but several Nyackers never got a call; the system crashed unexpectedly before making all the rounds.

Another major anxiety that quickly took root was the how Nyack's needy residents would cope. Some poorer residents do not have access to proper stoves or funds to buy bottled water. As a solution, to pass out free gallons of clean water.

"We gave water out to 223 households," said Kim Cross, Nyack Center's executive director. "We still have gallons left, and we'll continue distributing until we're out."

"People have been so happy," she added. "There are a lot of families with infants, and a lot of elderly residents who aren't as able to use stoves."