Water Authority files court action against Canal Corporation
By
WKTV News
Story Created:
May 19, 2010 at 11:18 AM EDT
Story Updated:
May 19, 2010 at 12:33 PM EDT
ALBANY, N.Y. (WKTV) - Mohawk Valley Water Authority officials will hold a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Albany to announce that an offer for settlement of water supply issues extended to the New York State Canal Corporation has been ignored and that court action will now follow.
According to the Mohawk Valley Water Authority, court intervention has been deemed necessary after they said the offer to the Canal Corporation had been ignored. The Water Authority said it had filed a motion to intervene on May 18, 2010, in the New York State Court of Claims lawsuit being brought by Erie Boulevard Hydropower against New York State, the New York State Thruway Authority and the New York State Canal Corporation.
The Water Authority said it is turning to this alternative to protect its access to the drinking water supply for the 130,000 customers it serves and to preserve future economic development potential for the numerous New York State municipalities in that region. The Water Authority said there have been three incidents since 2007 of low water levels due to "new York State Canal Corporation's reluctance to adjust the reservoir's operating diagram - a clear precedent for many decades."
Low-level fluctuations without response to offset water deficits is a threat to the public drinking water supply.
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Mohawk Valley Water Authority officials, and Mohawk Valley Water Authority Counsel said they will be present at the press conference scheduled for 2 p.m. In Albany.
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