Pilot Testing of the Lower Hudson River for Potable Water Production

PILOT TESTING OF THE LOWER HUDSON RIVER FOR POTABLE WATER PRODUCTION.within Haverstraw Bay approximately 40 miles upstream, United Water New York Inc. is pilot testing various technologies to produce potable water. This reach of the river is brackish and can see primarily freshwater conditions during high river flow conditions to saline brackish water at other times. This transition between freshwater and brackish water conditions presents unique challenges for the production of drinking water. This section of the river can experience variations in salinity from less than 100 milligrams per liter (mg/l TDS) to as high as 11,000 mg/l and in turbidity from less than 10 NTU to greater than 200 NTU. In addition the water temperature varies seasonally from 35 to as high as 85 degrees F. Reverse osmosis (RO) treatment will be required for much of the year to reduce total dissolved solids (TDS) to acceptable levels to comply with New York State and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water regulations.