United Water is finalizing construction of a pilot desalination plant at Haverstraw on the Hudson river in New York state. If constructed, the full size reverse-osmosis plant would be 7.5 MGD (28,300 m³/d).
United says that the 200,000 GPD (757,000 L/d) pilot plant, which received all its approvals in 2009, should be operational in 5-6 weeks.
The company says the main project, known as the Haverstraw Water Supply Project, will provide a high-quality water supply at quantities and pressure needed to meet projected future demands for Rockland County residents, businesses and firefighting. The wastewater and brine would be disposed of at the Haverstraw Joint Regional Sewage Treatment Plant, which will have to be upgraded.
United has filed a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the full-size plant with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and a final EIS is awaiting public responses. Among those opposing the plant are the towns of Ramapo and Stony Point, the Citizens Campaign for the Environment and Riverkeeper. Concerns relate to energy use, habitat destruction, harmful discharges and proximity to the Indian Point nuclear power station.