Rotterdam boil-water advisory could be lifted today

PHOTOGRAPHER: Ned Campbell

A 21-inch water valve on Bernard Street in Rotterdam failed after the last of six water main breaks were repaired Tuesday, the town said.

The number of broken water mains previously was reported as four, but town officials Wednesday said that number is up to six because the Schermerhorn Road water main broke in three places, not one.

The broken valve on the Bernard Street main will mean a handful of homes on Bernard and Wallace streets won’t have drinkable water until sometime next week. The town plans to repair that valve Monday, during which time those houses will have no water at all, Deputy Supervisor Wayne Calder said.

The broken valve has led to a loss of water pressure in some parts of Rotterdam, the release said.

Calder said the broken valve doesn’t affect the town’s testing of the water, and the boil-water advisory could be lifted by 5 p.m. today, assuming the water tests come back clean.

The town took the first samples of the water Wednesday after the series of water main breaks occurred early Monday morning and left about 22,000 people without drinkable water. The samples were sent to a New York state-certified water testing facility Wednesday afternoon, and a second sample was to be tested 12 hours later.

If both tests find the water to be clean and safe to drink, the Schenectady County Health Department can lift the boil-water advisory.

All residents should have enough water pressure for necessary household activities, the release said. If any residents are still without water, however, they are advised to call Rotterdam police at 355-7331.