Health Alert: Nyack Water Customers Told To Boil Water Before Using

Customers of Nyack’s Water Department are being cautioned tonight to boil their water before using it for drinking or cooking, possibly for the next three to five days, because of levels of bacteria that exceed health standards, according to a notice by the village.

Water department crews, in response to the problem, are raising chlorine levels in the water at the Nyack treatment plant in West Nyack and they are flushing sections of the water system. About 15,000 customers—in Nyack, South Nyack, Central Nyack and the Palisades Center in West Nyack—are affected.

The boil water alert went out after a notice from the Rockland County Health Department today cited the Nyack Water Department for coliform bacteria found through routine tests of the water.

The water department recommends customers bring tap water to a rolling boil, boil for one minute, and cool before using.  Or, use bottled water certified for sale by the New York State Department of Health. The department says boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and preparing food.

The alert also comes with an order from the Health Department for all restaurants served by the Nyack Water Department to comply with restrictions to safeguard the public. Measures mandated by the Health Department include:

- Turning off water fountains

- Turning off and cleaning ice machines, with only bagged ice to be used

- Bottled water must be used for food cleaning and preparation

- Beverage machines connected directly to the water supply must be turned off

- A notice must advise customers the tap water must not be consumed

Coliform bacteria, according to health officials, are naturally present in the environment and are an indicator that potentially harmful microbes may be present. Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms and may pose a special health risk for infants, some elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.  But these symptoms are not just caused by microbes in drinking water, according to health officials.

The boil water advisory suggests that if you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you should seek medical advice.