Murphy gets water flowing for Forest Park water customers

MAHOPAC, NY - Senator Terrence Murphy has announced that Suez Water New York Inc. has been appointed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to take over the day-to-day operations of the Forest Water Group. The move ensures that 980 customers serviced by the Forest Water Group in Putnam and Westchester Counties will continue to receive a safe and adequate water supply.

"Our office received numerous complaints from customers saying they were without water and they were not getting any help from the Forest Park Group," Senator Murphy said. "Families need safe drinking water and water for everyday use. When the company that is supposed to be a providing water service lacks the ability to do so, something has to be done to rectify the situation. Through the diligence of my staff, County Executive Odell and the PSC we got the water flowing again."

"We recognized there was an immediate problem and put together a comprehensive plan of action," said County Executive MaryEllen Odell. "Our office, Senator Murphy and the PSC worked quickly and efficiently together to solve the problem. We did what we needed to do to on behalf of people that needed help."

Working in tandem with the Public Service Commission, Senator Murphy and County Executive Odell stepped in and stepped up to help restore water service to nearly 200 Forest Park customers who had lost their water service. Suez Water investigated the condition of the impaired system on June 24, providing technical and financial support in restoring the system to full operation. As temporary operator, Suez Water will be notifying each customer that they will be managing their account.

The Forest Park Group provides metered water service in 14 separate non-contiguous water systems to approximately 980 customers in Carmel and Southeast in Putnam County and Lewisboro in Westchester County. The Forest Park Group is comprised of Northeast Water Services, Forest Park Water Company, Inc., Hilltop Meadows Water-Works Corp., and Misty Hills Water Corporation.

The PSC has the authority to appoint a temporary operator for a water utility with less than 1,000 customers if the Commission finds that the utility either failed to provide safe and adequate service, lack the technical or financial ability to do or has abandoned the water system. Given the current state of the Forest Park Group, it was determined they could not provide service. The owner of the Forest Park Group gave his consent for the appointment of a temporary service provider.

Suez Water has since informed the PSC of multiple deficiencies with the Forest Park system, including a failed well pump, non-payment of vendors and an inactive customer service number. Since then a well at another system has failed and Suez Water is again assisting in its restoration.