Westchester Joint Water Works and its member municipalities (Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck and Town/Village of Harrison) have entered into a federal consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and New York State Department of Health that sets forth a schedule to build a Filtration Plant for WJWW’s Rye Lake water source.
The consent decree provides for the installation of the best available technology for achieving compliance with the maximum contaminant levels for disinfection byproducts and with State law requiring the filtration of drinking water taken from a surface water source. Under the consent decree, the Filtration Plant is to be constructed by March 1, 2029 and operational by July 1, 2029.
The consent decree contains the terms and conditions to consolidate and settle all claims in connection with filtration and treatment of surface water drawn from Rye Lake on behalf of consumers served by the WJWW system. The consent decree, along with necessary paperwork from the State of New York to join in the omnibus settlement, was lodged with the federal court on June 24, 2024, and became effective on September 23, 2024.
In recognition of WJWW’s good faith efforts and the significant progress it has made in moving the filtration plant project forward, the settlement agreement resolved the governments’ claims for civil penalties at less than one percent of the statutory maximum penalties available under federal and state law. The consent decree sets forth the incremental milestones to be accomplished through July 1, 2029 which is the date established for commencing operation of the filtration plant. Click here to view a copy of the consent decree.