Water for Saratoga: the reasons

Saratoga Springs Water Issue: Talking Points

Cost to taxpayers: $17 million for Saratoga Lake option; $78 million for the County water ‘plan.’ The $78 million for the County water plan has the following problems: there is no real plan yet in place; the cost includes a water filtration plant which Saratoga Springs already has; the cost is only for the first part of the ‘plan’ which is to be followed within ten years by a second and equally costly project. Saratoga Lake would remain in our jurisdiction and the control would lie in the hands of the city residents. We would be charged for only what we use and not be required to use more than we need. It is a far more environmentally sound option in terms of water conservation.

Local control of Saratoga Springs’ destiny would be maintained by using Saratoga Lake.
Because we as a City would be able to determine how much or how little water we need, we would not be subject to County surcharges and fees. This would allow us to control our destiny in terms of managed ‘smart’ development and avoid the excessive urban sprawl that would result from having a water pipe running up and down Route 9.

Using Saratoga Lake as a water source will not impact its water level. Currently 180 million gallons of water run out of Saratoga Lake through Kayaderosseras Creek on a daily basis. Other flow out of the lake is controlled by a man-powered damn. Saratoga Springs is looking for one or two million gallons of water during the tourist season to supplement our current supply of water. If we do need to turn to the lake for our main source of water in the future, we would still take only 11 million gallons per day – only 6.1% or 6/100ths of what currently flows out of the lake.

The safety of our water supply and our quality of life are crucial.
Currently the location the County pinpointed for water access in the Hudson River contains PCBs. The water has been tested as suitable, but that will not remain the case once the riverbed is stirred up. Most of the PCB contamination lies in the sediment and soil beneath the water and will be released when digging for a pipeline occurs. The risk is not worth it.


Saratoga Lake has been deemed suitable for use as drinking water by the New York State Department of Health. The NYS Department of Health approved the plan drawn up by the engineer consulting firm of Barton and Lojuidice. In a letter responding to the DEIS Michael Montysko of the health department's water supply bureau stated, " ... we see no need for special restrictions beyond the current requirements imposed on the lake, except in the immediate area of the intake, where swimming should be prohibited and the anchoring of boats should be restricted" (The Saratogian 7 July 2003). The fears of lake residents that the lake will be off limits for recreational purposes have no basis in reality. In fact once the lake is utilized as a water source, it will be perceived as being cleaner which will actually raise the residents’ property values.