Newburgh state of emergency lifted

A state of emergency that was put in place in Newburgh on Monday has been lifted.

The city manager put the state of emergency in place after the chemical PFOS was found at Washington Lake and Silver Stream, where the entire city gets its drinking water.

This morning the state of emergency was rescinded after Mayor Judy Kennedy stressed the water is safe to drink. That is because Newburgh is on a back-up source. It is now getting its water from Brown's Pond and the Catskill Aqueduct.

However restrictions have been put in place. Restaurants will not serve water unless it is requested. Also, the use of water to wash paved surfaces such as driveways, patios and sidewalks is banned. Water use is restricted to 50 gallons per day per family and no watering of lawns or gardens.

Meanwhile, the situation has residents considered and confused on what's really happening. They blamed the lack of communication on city leaders.

Mayor Kennedy says the city manager jumped the gun and declared a state of emergency without her knowledge stating that the levels of PFOS are the same as they were two years ago 140 parts per trillion.

Restrictions will remain in place as long as they continue to draw the water from Brown's Pond.