For the second consecutive week, the Town of Fallsburg has issued a water conservation notice for certain areas of South Fallsburg, effective until Monday, July 15, 2024.
According to Fallsburg officials, a review of the current water supply this morning revealed that the LaVista Drive water tanks are at minimum levels necessary to meet the expected demand this weekend.
The town is urging residents in the affected areas to “conserve as much water as possible to avoid running out again this Friday evening.”
Officials explained they are working “to dig up and replace several water valves believed to be obstructing the transfer of water from the new tank at Old Falls Road.”
Additionally, the town is repairing a major water main leak beneath a state-owned culvert crossing State Route 42.
“To ensure uninterrupted service during peak usage periods this weekend, we ask residents to check for water leaks and reduce consumption whenever possible,” the town stated. “We also request residents limit water use for non-critical purposes, such as washing cars and watering lawns. If we fail to adequately refill the LaVista Drive water tanks by Friday morning, it could result in another noticeable decrease in water pressure for residents in the affected area,” said Fallsburg officials.
Fallsburg Supervisor Michael Bensimon told Radio Catskill that, “Crews have been working diligently to address these issues this week, as well as tracking down smaller leaks in the system in order to ensure we maintain uninterrupted service this weekend. We are asking residents to make a concerted effort to check for water leaks and to reduce water consumption whenever possible.We are also requesting that residents limit the consumption of water for non critical uses, such as washing cars and watering lawns. The Town Board is working on contingency measures in case we experience another disruption, and most importantly, we’re currently working on funding upgrades to our aging and crumbling water mains.”
Fallsburg’s population nearly triples during the summer months as seasonal residents return to the Catskills, along with seasonal businesses and camps.
Town water is pumped from wells into pressurized holding tanks before being distributed to residents. During periods of high usage and little rainfall, it becomes challenging to meet the demand, officials have said in the past.
Fallsburg has faced water shortage issues in recent years due to the population increase and the construction of large, dense housing units. These developments have also impacted the town’s sewer system.
Bart Rasnick, President of the Fallsburg Fire Department, expressed concerns over the water issues, noting that if a fire occurs during this period, the department will not rely on hydrants. Instead, they will call for water tankers and use rivers and lakes to supply water to the emergency scene.
“There’s not enough water in the tank for us to effectively put out a structure fire,” Rasnick said.
As Fallsburg continues to grow and more housing projects are developed, the demand for water in South Fallsburg has increased. The planned upgrade aims to meet these growing needs, especially during July and August, when the population peaks.