Feds sue Westchester over contamination in water district
WHITE PLAINS – The federal government has filed a civil lawsuit against the County of Westchester alleging violations of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The lawsuit alleges that since April 2002, the county through its Water District No. 1 has failed to comply with the federal rule that requires municipal drinking water suppliers to treat all unfiltered surface water for Cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite.
Cryptosporidium can cause cryptosporidiosis, a potentially fatal gastrointestinal illness in humans with symptoms that include diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramps.
There is no known treatment for the illness and symptoms may persist for two weeks or longer in otherwise healthy adults and can be life threatening for more vulnerable individuals, federal officials said.
The water district supplies water to residents of Scarsdale, White Plains and Yonkers.
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