News from Westchester County.

*** MEDIA AVAILABILITY AT 11:30 AM ***

VOTE IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S WATER TASTE TEST MAY 7.

 

Help Choose the Best-Tasting Water in Westchester to Mark National Drinking Water Week.

 

(White Plains, NY) – Join Westchester County Executive George Latimer Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. as he casts his vote for the top tap water in Westchester.

 

Stop by the Westchester County Department of Health’s tap water contest in White Plains between 10 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. to join the judging. Sample water from around the County and vote for the one that tastes the best. Last year’s champion was Yonkers.

Held to highlight the quality of public water supplies during National Drinking Water Week, this year’s blind taste test will take place in front of the Michaelian Office Building, 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains. The water supply with the most votes wins and will compete regionally. The rain date is Wednesday, same time and place.

 

“This tap water contest is a fun way to remind residents that the county health department works hard year-round to protect this important natural resource,” said Latimer. “Come cast your vote and meet some of the staff who work to assure the quality and safety of our water supply.”

 

 

In 1974, Congress first enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect public health by regulating public water systems. The federal Environmental Protection Agency sets legal limits for more than 90 contaminants in public drinking water supplies. These limits, as well as water testing schedules and methods that water systems must follow, are enforced in Westchester by the County Health Department. Water suppliers and the County Health Department sample the public waters routinely, and all contest participants meet all water quality standards. Private wells are unregulated and private well owners are responsible for the safety of their water. Bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

The next quarterly test of the site-wide alarms at Hillview Reservoir will happen May 6 at approximately 10 a.m. This test is part of Department of Environmental Protection's quarterly maintenance, inspection and testing, and it will sound the alarms for 1-5 minutes. There will be a notification through the system preceding the alarm, which will say "This is just a test."  COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER STATEMENT ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY.   “One of the most important pillars of democracy is a free and open press. The job of a journalist is to hold leaders - on all levels of government - accountable while also telling the stories of the people, places and events that make up who we are as a society. To put it more simply, without a free and open press we would live in a vacuum and in a world where decisions were made without fear of consequence - and that is not democracy. On this 26th annual World Press Freedom Day, join me in commending those who do this work and calling for the freedom to report both here locally and around the world.” WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES HOSTS PUBLIC MEETING ON THE FOOD WASTE STUDY.   (White Plains, NY) –Furthering Westchester County’s mission to create a Westchester County food waste program, the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) is hosting a public meeting at the Westchester County Center to garner input and to present the scope and plan of the study. Speakers will be given three minutes to speak.   Thursday, May 9 6:30 to 8: 30 p.m. Westchester County Center “Little Theatre” 198 Central Avenue, White Plains   On February 11, 2019 DEF commenced a comprehensive Food Waste Study to analyze the County’s waste stream and determine how much food waste can potentially be diverted from both the residential and commercial waste streams to food rescue programs.  The effort is to assist those with food insecurity and for recycling programs. The study will also examine all of the potential technologies available for processing food waste, including utilizing digesters located at the County’s water resource recovery facilities, anaerobic food waste digesters and composting.  All options are being considered while taking into account siting availability, permitting issues, cost and environmental benefit, in an effort to determine the best course of action for Westchester.   The County has engaged Woodard & Curran to assist with the study and to issue a report by the end of August.   Those who cannot attend the public meeting, but still want to participate can email their remarks to DEF-FoodWasteStudy@westchestergov.com.