By Lee Corey
United Water hopes to build a desalination plant in Haverstraw Bay on the Hudson River.
CitizensCampaign.org opposes this construction because of the potential ecological damage resulting from salt, mineral, heavy metal and PCBs discharges into the Hudson River after the water has been extracted.
The Rockland Water Coalition says the estimated $140 million construction cost will increase each United Water customer’s bill by $360 per customer per year. And environmentalists are concerned because desalination plants are energy hogs, consuming as much as nine times more energy than surface water treatment plants, increasing local energy demand on fossil fuels.
Lee Corey is the owner of CoreyToons, a small digital animation and design studio whose production credits including Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Disney TV. Lee is a long time resident of Rockland County and a part-time instructor at Pratt Institute.
Great job of getting the absurdity of the PROPOSED desalination plant depicted.
The cartoon makes it look like it is the future and it has been built, but this month we ALL have the Citizen Right to oppose this desal plant. Oppose it on the basis of Cost, Health, Over Development, Environmental degradation. You choose.
United Water says the the $140 Million cost will be phased in to ease the “rate shock” to the tax payers. How about that! Desalination technology is also famous for BIG unseen and unexpected costs. Once it is built we are saddled forever.
No matter what United Water advertises, there is no substitute for pure, fresh water. We have enough water. We need to value what we have and learn to take care of it. We need to plan for sustainable development. Water appreciation builds community. Let the DEC know you are part of the Solution! Come Feb. 23rd to New City Town Hall 7 PM for the “GET THE FACTS” FORUM with The Rockland Water Coalition, Riverkeeper and Citizens Campaign for the Environment. Visit “Rockland Water Coalition” on Facebook for more info. – Laurie Seeman