Plenty of Water -
Most Places
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| Hurley Falls used with permission,
Theresa Asereht (c) |
The
water studies completed to date indicate that water is readily
available in most areas of Hurley to meet the community's demands
both now and
in the future. The aquifers are large and reliable.
And Where There's Not...
Water quantity concerns
expressed by some residents appear to stem from two issues
--wells running
dry
during droughts,
and reduction in well yield, possibly caused by nearby development.
Our survey indicated that many wells that fail
probably do so because they are quite shallow,
often less than 150 feet. Early Hurley residents hand dug many
of these wells. In many cases the residents who reported well
failure don't know the depth of their wells.
Digging deeper may mitigate the problem. This
solution falls to the individual
homeowner.
On Ohayo Mountain, water shortages occur due
to the altitude and rock formations. It's difficult, to
dig deep enough through the rock to reach the large aquifers.
The CAC recommends
a reduction in the density of future development on Ohayo Mountain
by increasing
minimum lot
size
through
zoning.
Protecting Current Residents From New Development
In
a few areas new wells for new development may have an impact
on
existing
wells.
In
new
development,
the
Committee
recommends
that
the
Planning Board require a developer to demonstrate adequate
water supply prior to approval of a subdivision or issuance of
a building
permit. Hydrogeologic testing should include the impact on
surrounding wells over a period of 30 days.
Water Quality
Oversight of wastewater disposal is the responsibility of the Ulster County
Health Department and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Provided that current New York State standards are incorporated in the design,
there is no restriction on additional wells as new development proceeds, or
on wastewater disposal associated with that development.
West Hurley's potential for cross-contamination
In
the West Hurley area, the water supply on small lots with individual
wells
and
on-site
sewage
disposal
can become problematic if not properly cared for. We understand
that some water quality issues have already arisen there.
It is the individual homeowner’s responsibility
to regularly test and treat his private well water and maintain
his septic system in good working order. The EPA offers information
and advice that you can rely on.
While homeowners
may develop immunity to the pollution in their wells, failure
to test and treat can threaten the health of others. (Think
Montezuma’s
Revenge)
Long-Term Care of the Aquifers
The Old Hurley Aquifer Study provides a good orientation to
the types of aquifers and the potential for compromising their
quality. The consultant recommended that the Town establish an
Aquifer Protection overlay district and offered a model resolution.
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